Herbert William Weekes

Herbert William Weekes (8 May 1841 – 21 November 1914) was a well-known English genre and animal painter of the Victorian Neoclassical period who specialized in portraying animals in humorous, human-like situations.

Herbert William Weekes
Born
Herbert William Weekes

8 May 1841[1]
Pimlico, London, England
Died21 November 1914[2]
Primrose Hill, London, England
NationalityEnglish
Known forgenre and animal painting
MovementVictorian Neoclassical

Early life and family

Weekes was born in Pimlico, London, England[3] to a prominent artistic family: the youngest of five children,[4][5] his father, Henry Weekes, Sr. (1807–1877), was a sculptor and Royal Academician;[6] his brother, Henry, Jr. (fl. 1850–1884), was also a genre painter known for his animal studies;[4][7] and his brother, Frederick (1833–1920), was an artist and expert on medieval costume and design.[8]

Later life and career

Weekes appears to have used his middle name, William, for all but formal purposes. He lived and worked for most of his life in London, at 21 Oppidans Road, Primrose Hill.[7][9] In 1865, he married artist Caroline Anne Henshaw (born ca. 1844), of Hammersmith.[3][10][11]

"Suspicion (ca. 1900)", oil-on-canvas
"Fowl Talk", oil-on-canvas
Weekes' signature

Known as an animal and genre painter of the Victorian Neoclassical style, Weekes' work was popular, and helped expand 19th century animal painting from its traditional role of simply recording beasts into a way of reflecting human life.[12][13] He frequently personified animals and placed them in situations particular to humans. His work shows a sensitive understanding of his subject matter, and part of his success in capturing the peaceful country atmosphere depicted in so many of his paintings lay in his affection for it.[14] He was greatly influenced by one of the foremost animal painters of the nineteenth century, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer.[9]

Weekes contributed illustrations for The Illustrated London News in 1883, and exhibited extensively in various London and provincial galleries. His works were well received - although not by everyone: a contemporary wit described his paintings as “Weekes' Weak Squeaks”.[5]

His works were alternatively signed with the initials 'WW' (sometimes overlaid), 'W. Weekes', 'William Weekes', 'Herbert William Weekes', 'H.W. Weekes', 'H. Weekes', and simply 'Weekes'. They were exhibited in a variety of venues from 1864 to 1904, with frequencies as follows:[5]

Weekes died on 21 November 1914 and was buried on 28 November in Hampstead Cemetery (West Hampstead) - the grave is in Section C11 Grave 145, the service was performed by the Vicar of St Luke's Church Hampstead.

Works

This is an inexhaustive list of Weekes' paintings, primarily done in oil on canvas:

  • Acquainted With Whoa
  • A Meeting of the Savants
  • Anticipation
  • An Appeal to the Benevolent
  • The Apple Picker Takes A Tumble
  • An Appreciative Audience
  • The Avenged
  • Barnyard Friends
  • Best of Friends
  • A Bone of Contention
  • The Blockade
  • A Captive Audience
  • Christmas Greetings
  • Cold As Charity
  • Congratulations
  • Consulting the Oracle
  • A Critic
  • Court of Arbitration
  • Darby and Joan
  • Curiosity
  • The Disputed Gate
  • A Donkey and Geese Beside a Wheelbarrow
  • The Eviction
  • Farmyard Friends
  • Feeding the Pigs
  • Feeding Time
  • A Friendly Gathering
  • FowlTalk
  • Fox Terrier
  • A Giant Snowball
  • Giving Way
  • A Glimpse of the News
  • Going to the Dogs
  • The Good and the Bad Little Pig
  • Good Friends
  • Good Taste
  • The Grand Procession
  • In Great Difficulties
  • The Guardian of the Greens
  • Guarding the Chicks
  • Guilty Conscience
  • The Haggle
  • How Dare You
  • An Intruder
  • I Smell a Rat
  • Kennel Companions
  • The Little Calf
  • A Little Girl Feeding Geese
  • The Low Comedian's Reception
  • Mother and Foal
  • Music Hath Charms aka Music To Their Ears
  • My Lady's at Home
  • Not One of Us
  • Outnumbered
  • Patience is a virtue
  • The Patient and the Quacks
  • The Pawnbrokers
  • The Pig's Picnic
  • Piping the Piggies
  • Portrait of a Peasant Woman
  • Prattlers and Cracklers
  • Pride and Humility
  • Quiet!
  • The Sermon
  • A Siesta
  • A Snap for the Lot
  • A Spaniel Puppy
  • Stable Companions
  • Unpleasant for Both Parties
  • Street Acrobats
  • A Stump Oration
  • Suspicion
  • A Sweet Thing
  • Taunting the Geese
  • Teaching the Puppy New Tricks
  • A Terrier
  • A Territorial Dispute
  • This Comes Hopping You Are Well
  • A Tug o War
  • Trespassers
  • Two of his Flock
  • Two Donkeys and a Carrion Crow
  • Two Smooth-Coated Fox Terriers
  • The Unruly Mob
  • The Unruly Neighbours
  • Unwelcome Guest
  • An Unusual Visitor
  • An Urban Council
  • A Visitor
  • Waiting Is a Virtue
  • Waiting our Turn
  • Washer Woman and Two Dandies
  • A Watchful Eye
  • A Wee Bit Frightened
  • Where Are They?
  • Which Way To Market?
  • Which Way to Cork?
  • You Are Sitting in My Nest
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References
  1. London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
  2. "Deaths". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 27 November 1914. p. 1.
  3. "IGI Individual Record: Herbert Weekes". FamilySearch.org. 14 Oct 1865. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 29 Jan 2009.
  4. "The Little Calf, Henry Weekes, Jnr., fl: 1850–1884". J. Collins & Son Fine Art. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18. Retrieved 28 Jan 2009.
  5. "Quiet!, Herbert William Weekes fl: 1864–1904". J. Collins & Son Fine Art. Archived from the original on 2007-02-10. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  6. "Weekes, Henry (English sculptor and teacher, 1807–1877)". Getty Museum. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  7. "Artist Biography: William Weekes fl. 1864–1904". Burlington Paintings. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  8. "Autumn Exhibition: Frederick Weekes (1833–1920)". Michael Sim. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  9. "Two of His Flock". Invaluable.com. Retrieved 29 Jan 2009.
  10. "FamilySearch International Genealogical Index". FamilySearch.org. 1881. Retrieved 29 Jan 2009.
  11. "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB68-RKR : 24 July 2015), Caroline Weekes in entry for William Weeks, 1871.
  12. "Herbert William Weekes Biography". Haynes Fine Art of Broadway. Archived from the original on 2008-02-16. Retrieved 28 Jan 2009.
  13. "Herbert William Weekes". Artnet. Retrieved 28 Jan 2009.
  14. "Suspicion". Cinoa. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 13 Jul 2009.
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