Wilfrid de Glehn
Encyclopedia
Wilfrid Gabriel de Glehn (also sometimes spelt 'Wilfried'), RA (1870-11 May 1951) was an Impressionist British
painter, elected to the Royal Academy
in 1932.
Wilfried Von Glehn (he changed his name in 1917) was born in Sydenham
in south-east London. After schooling at Brighton College
with his brother Louis, he studied art at the South Kensington
School of Art, and the École des Beaux-Arts
in Paris. He was then hired by Edwin Austin Abbey
and John Singer Sargent
to assist them on their Boston Public Library
mural project at Morgan Hall (c.1890–1893).
de Glehn would exhibit his own work first in Rome in 1894 and then in Paris in 1895; he was also elected an Associetaire of the Société des Artistes Français
. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1896.
de Glehn met American-born artist Jane Erin Emmet
(1873–1961) in New Rochelle, New York
in 1903, and they were married there the following year. Following their wedding, the couple honeymooned in Cornwall, England and vacationed in Paris and Venice and made a permanent home in London. However, they travelled extensively, often accompanying Sargent on his trips through Europe. When World War I intervened, husband and wife joined the staff of a British hospital for French soldiers, Hôpital Temporaire d'Arc-en-Barrois, Haute-Marne, France in January 1915. The following year, de Glehn was commissioned in the Artists’ Rifles and seconded to the front in Italy in 1917. It was around this time that the couple shed the Germanic 'Von Glehn' surname. After the war, de Glehn held solo exhibitions at the Leicester Gallery and in New York (1920). For the next decade the two would spend summers in Cornwall and winters in France.
Although some experts rank de Glehn alongside Sargent, he is considered as something of a late British Renoir
, for his deft use of sunlight and shadow.
de Glehn is also considered one of the most distinguished artists to have lived in Wiltshire
. He died in 1951, at the age of 80, at his home, The Manor House in Stratford Tony
, to which he had moved in 1942. His home was the subject of several paintings, as was his previous residence, the Old Rectory in Wilton
.
His father was Alexander de Glehn of Sydenham, London. Louise Creighton
a British activist and author and Alfred de Glehn
a French steam locomotive designer were sister and brother of Alexander.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
painter, elected to the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1932.
Wilfried Von Glehn (he changed his name in 1917) was born in Sydenham
Sydenham
Sydenham is an area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham; although some streets towards Crystal Palace Park, Forest Hill and Penge are outside the ward and in the London Borough of Bromley, and some streets off Sydenham Hill are in the London Borough of Southwark. Sydenham was in...
in south-east London. After schooling at Brighton College
Brighton College
Brighton College is an institution divided between a Senior School known simply as Brighton College, the Prep School and the Pre-Prep School. All of these schools are co-educational independent schools in Brighton, England, sited immediately next to each another. The Senior School caters for...
with his brother Louis, he studied art at the South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
School of Art, and the École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
in Paris. He was then hired by Edwin Austin Abbey
Edwin Austin Abbey
Edwin Austin Abbey was an American artist, illustrator, and painter. He flourished at the beginning of what is now referred to as the "golden age" of illustration, and is best known for his drawings and paintings of Shakespearean and Victorian subjects, as well as for his painting of Edward VII's...
and John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent was an American artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Edwardian era luxury. During his career, he created roughly 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors, as well as countless sketches and charcoal drawings...
to assist them on their Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to...
mural project at Morgan Hall (c.1890–1893).
de Glehn would exhibit his own work first in Rome in 1894 and then in Paris in 1895; he was also elected an Associetaire of the Société des Artistes Français
Société des artistes français
The Société des Artistes Français is the association of French painters and sculptors established in 1881. Its annual exhibition is called the Salon....
. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1896.
de Glehn met American-born artist Jane Erin Emmet
Jane Emmet de Glehn
-Early life:Born in New Rochelle, New York, she was the youngest daughter of ten siblings. Her great-great-uncle Robert Emmet was a notable Irish nationalist who was hanged in 1803 for high treason by the British court for his attempt to implement an abortive Irish rebellion...
(1873–1961) in New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
in 1903, and they were married there the following year. Following their wedding, the couple honeymooned in Cornwall, England and vacationed in Paris and Venice and made a permanent home in London. However, they travelled extensively, often accompanying Sargent on his trips through Europe. When World War I intervened, husband and wife joined the staff of a British hospital for French soldiers, Hôpital Temporaire d'Arc-en-Barrois, Haute-Marne, France in January 1915. The following year, de Glehn was commissioned in the Artists’ Rifles and seconded to the front in Italy in 1917. It was around this time that the couple shed the Germanic 'Von Glehn' surname. After the war, de Glehn held solo exhibitions at the Leicester Gallery and in New York (1920). For the next decade the two would spend summers in Cornwall and winters in France.
Although some experts rank de Glehn alongside Sargent, he is considered as something of a late British Renoir
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. As a celebrator of beauty, and especially feminine sensuality, it has been said that "Renoir is the final representative of a tradition which runs directly from Rubens to...
, for his deft use of sunlight and shadow.
de Glehn is also considered one of the most distinguished artists to have lived in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. He died in 1951, at the age of 80, at his home, The Manor House in Stratford Tony
Stratford Tony
Stratford Tony, also spelt Stratford Toney, formerly known as Stratford St Anthony and Toney Stratford, is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England...
, to which he had moved in 1942. His home was the subject of several paintings, as was his previous residence, the Old Rectory in Wilton
Wilton, Wiltshire
Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...
.
His father was Alexander de Glehn of Sydenham, London. Louise Creighton
Louise Creighton
Louise Hume Creighton, née von Glehn was a British author of books on historical and socio-political topics and an activist for greater role of women both within society and within the Church of England. In 1872, she married Mandell Creighton, later a historian and bishop in the Church of...
a British activist and author and Alfred de Glehn
Alfred de Glehn
Alfred George de Glehn was a notable English-born French designer of steam locomotives, and an engineer at the Société Alsacienne de Constructions Mécaniques . His steam engines of the 1890s combined elegance, high speed and efficiency...
a French steam locomotive designer were sister and brother of Alexander.