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John Absolon - Mr. Edmund Kean as Hamlet
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John Absolon was a British watercolourist, specialising in figure painting. He studied in London and then Paris.

Absolon was born in Lambeth in May 1815. He was described in a profile in The Art Journal as "one among many artists who have raised themselves by energy and perseverance alone to a good position in their profession and in society". By the age of 15 he was earning a living as a portrait painter, and two years later he was working as a theatrical scene-painter, contributing the figures to stage sets at Drury Lane and Covent Garden. He showed two oil paintings on religious subjects at the British Institution in 1837, but dissatisfied with the direction of his work, left for Paris the next year, accompanied by his wife. He stayed there for almost a year, supporting himself by painting miniatures. From 1839 he exhibited at the New Watercolour Society, of which he had become a member before his departure for France. He resigned from the society in 1858 to concentrate on oil painting, and showed several works at the Royal Academy, but returned to it in 1861.

In the 1850s and 1860s he lived in Camden New Town (now in the London Borough of Camden), first at 10 Cornwall Crescent and later at 15 Saint Augustine's Road.

In 1843 he was commissioned to produce illustrations for an edition of Isaac Walton's Compleat Angler, and the next year the publisher David Bogue employed him to provide drawings for an edition of the poems of James Beattie and William Collins.

He contributed the figures to "The Overland Mail" an attraction exhibited at the 'Gallery of Illustration' in Regent Street, described in an advertisement as "a gigantic moving diorama of the route of the overland mail to India". He later visited Switzerland and Italy, and exhibited scenes from the two countries.

Absolon was one of a number of artists and photographers supporting charities. 'On Saturday 21 1868 a private view was given at the Institute of Painters in Water-colours, Pall-mall, of a series of ten cartoon sketches, painted and presented to the governors of Guy's Hospital for the decoration of one of the sick wards of that institution. They are intended for the Samaritan Ward. Mr. Valentine Blanchard has taken a complete series of admirable photographs of Mr. Absolon's drawings. The set are fitted into a neat portfolio.'

In Collection: Illustrations to Shakespeare (View all 1404)

As you like it, Touchstone and Audrey

As you like it, Touchstone and Audrey

Henry Liverseege (English, 1802 – 1832)
Illustrations to Shakespeare Pl.057

Illustrations to Shakespeare Pl.057 (19th century)

John Massey Wright (English, 1777–1866)
Much ado about nothing. But are you sure that Benedict loves Beatrice so entirely

Much ado about nothing. But are you sure that Benedict loves Beatrice so entirely (1917-1918)

Louis Rhead (American, 1857-1926)
A drinking scene

A drinking scene

Frederick Gilbert (English, 1827-1902)
Portrait of Jessica from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice

Portrait of Jessica from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice (19th century)

J. Smith (English, 19th Century)
Hamlet Pl.20

Hamlet Pl.20 (1900-1922)

John Austen (English, 1886-1948)
King Lear, studies for the characters, Edmund, Goneril, and Fool

King Lear, studies for the characters, Edmund, Goneril, and Fool (1892)

Herbert Railton (English, 1857 – 1910)
Edmund Kean as ‘Richard’ Marks

Edmund Kean as ‘Richard’ Marks

Augustus Toedteberg (American, 1825-1909)
Haunts of Shakespeare Pl.11

Haunts of Shakespeare Pl.11 (19th century)

Paul Braddon (English, 1864–1937)
The Winter’s Tale; Paulina, Emilia

The Winter’s Tale; Paulina, Emilia (1904)

Tom Heslewood (English, 1868–1939)
Shakespeare the infant, surrounded by sprites and muses

Shakespeare the infant, surrounded by sprites and muses

Thomas Uwins (English, 1782–1857)
Illustrations to Shakespeare Pl.073

Illustrations to Shakespeare Pl.073 (19th century)

John Massey Wright (English, 1777–1866)
Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night

John Massey Wright (English, 1777–1866)
King John, IV, 1, Hubert and Arthur

King John, IV, 1, Hubert and Arthur

Francis Philip Stephanoff (English, 1787–1860)
Taming of the Shrew, throwing the pillows & bedclothes about the room, so that she was forced to sit down in a chair

Taming of the Shrew, throwing the pillows & bedclothes about the room, so that she was forced to sit down in a chair (1917-1918)

Louis Rhead (American, 1857-1926)
View all 1404 Artworks

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