Frogmore - Interior of the Royal Mausoleum

Henry William Brewer (1836–1903) was a British illustrator, notable for his detailed city panoramas, held to be one of the most outstanding architectural draughtsmen of his day.

Family and early life

Brewer was born in Oxford on 7 August 1836. His father was the historian

John Sherren Brewer John Sherren Brewer, Jr. (March 1809 – February 1879) was an English clergyman, historian and scholar. He was a brother of E. Cobham Brewer, compiler of ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable''. Birth and education Brewer was born in Norwich ...

, and his uncle,

E. Cobham Brewer Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (2 May 1810 in Norwich – 6 March 1897 in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire), was a British lexicographer and the author of ''A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar'', ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'' ...

, the compiler of ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable.'' Brewer received his early education at the Baptist school in Norwich founded by his grandfather, John Sherren Brewer Senior. His school fellows included the clinician and physiologist Sydney Ringer, the orientalist Professor

Robert Lubbock Bensly Robert Lubbock Bensly (born in Eaton, Norwich, England, 24 August 1831; died in Cambridge, 23 April 1893) was an English orientalist. Life He was born at Eaton, near Norwich, on 24 August 1831. He was the second son of Robert Bensly and Harriet Re ...

, the architect

Edward Boardman Edward Boardman (1833–1910) was a Norwich born architect. He succeeded John Brown as the most successful Norwich architect in the second half of the 19th century.David Hodgson (artist), from whom the young Henry Brewer received private lessons in oil painting and drawing, developing his love of mediaeval and other architecture. Brewer later continued his art studies under William Warren and the prominent painter

George Clarkson Stanfield George Clarkson Stanfield (1 May 1828 – 22 March 1878) was an English people, English Painting, painter best known for his topographical views painted during his visits to the Rhine, Rhine Valley, Switzerland, and the Italian lakes. He was t ...

. He was also a pupil at

King's College, London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...

, where his father was Professor of Literature. Brewer married Frances Mary Mottley (1842–1927) in Germany on 7 July 1862. His older children were born in Bavaria. His sons

Henry Charles Brewer Henry Charles Brewer (1866–1950) was a British painter well known in the first half of the 20th century for his watercolour landscapes and architectural paintings. Family and early life Born on 25 May 1866 in Wurzburg, Bavaria, Henry Charle ...

and

James Alphege Brewer James Alphege Brewer (1881-1946) was a well-known early 20th century producer of colour etchings - notably of English and European Cathedrals and churches and other scenes. Family & Early Life Brewer was born on 24th July 1881, in Kensington, ...

achieved notoriety as artists and engravers. His eldest son,

John Francis Brewer John Francis Brewer (1865-1921) was a late Victorian and Edwardian English novelist, journalist and organist. Family and early life Brewer was born in Kensington, London, on 25 November 1864. He was the eldest son of the architectural illustr ...

, became an organist and writer. Brewer, an adherent of the Oxford Movement like his father, was influenced by

Augustus Pugin Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin ( ; 1 March 181214 September 1852) was an English architect, designer, artist and critic with French and, ultimately, Swiss origins. He is principally remembered for his pioneering role in the Gothic Revival st ...

and others to enter the Catholic Church. This high-profile conversion was also undertaken by Brewer's children.

Professional life

Brewer trained as an architectural draughtsman. His early professional was chiefly drawings of medieval buildings in Germany, where he was living, noteworthy for their individual and masterly sense of composition, detail and the breadth of light and shade. He developed a deep knowledge of architecture, and later drew many pictures which imagined or recreated architectural features and historical events – underpinned by learning and research. But it was for his panoramic bird's eye views of British towns and cities that he became chiefly known. He was a frequent exhibitor the Royal Academy, the British Institution and the Suffolk Street Gallery from 1858 to 1893. Brewer was a favourite Royal Painter, and undertook a number of commissions for the Royal Family. Most significant among these was a commission from

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

in 1869, for whom he executed number of water colour paintings of her

Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore The Royal Mausoleum is a mausoleum for Queen Victoria and her husband Albert, Prince Consort. It is located on the Frogmore estate within the Home Park at Windsor in Berkshire, England. It was listed Grade I on the National Heritage List for Engla ...

, her resting place for

Albert, Prince Consort Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Franz August Karl Albert Emanuel; 26 August 1819 – 14 December 1861) was the consort of Queen Victoria from their marriage on 10 February 1840 until his death in 1861. Albert was born in the Saxon duch ...

and herself. The Queen herself appears in some of these intensely personal pictures and took great interest in watching Brewer at his work. He also produced a series of views of London, showing the city in the time of Henry VIII, later published as “Old London illustrated”. Brewer also taught illustration. The Pall Mall Gazette article records in 1871 that "the programme for the new term at the Working Men's College, 45, Great Ormond-street, has just been issued. In art there are six classes, the life class being visited by Mr.

Lowes Cato Dickinson Lowes Cato Dickinson (27 November 1819 – 15 December 1908) was an English portrait painter and Christian socialist. He taught drawing with John Ruskin and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. He was a founder of the Working Men's College in London.

and Mr. Cave Thomas, with a special course in perspective by Mr. Henry W. Brewer."

Writings

Brewer became an expert on medieval architecture, and wrote authoritatively and extensively on the subject of buildings for a number of periodicals. His articles generally appeared under the initials 'HWB', and were often richly illustrated by his architectural drawings. His work appeared in both

The Graphic ''The Graphic'' was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Ltd. Thomas's brother Lewis Samuel Thomas was a co-founder. The premature death of the latt ...

and The Builder for around 25 years prior to his death. He also wrote for

The Girl's Own Paper ''The Girl's Own Paper'' (''G.O.P.'') was a British story paper catering to girls and young women, published from 1880 until 1956. Publishing history The first weekly number of ''The Girl's Own Paper'' appeared on 3 January 1880. As with its m ...

between 1889 and 1901, where subjects included Interesting Monuments of Distinguished Women (1889), The Castle of Cleve and the 'Magic Swan' (1890), The Largest Churches in Europe (1891), Archeology for Girls (1895), Typical Church Towers of English Counties (1895), Old English Cottage Homes (1899), and Site Base Support and Superstructure – Ancient and Modern Methods of Building (1901). Brewer's son, the author

, also wrote for

Later life and death

Brewer died in 1903. An obituary in ''The Builder'', reproduced in ''The Norfolk News'', opined that: ''"Mr. Brewer was one of the most simple-minded and unassuming of men: more interested his art for Its own sake than for any advantage he could make for himself out of it. From years of outdoor sketching in all weathers, had the weather-beaten appearance suggesting the life of sailor rather than of an artist; and though he always appeared to have excellent health, perhaps this exposure shortened his life; he was only 67 when died ..He was one who, both for his character and his talents, commanded the respect of all who knew him. and whose loss to us is one of the greatest which this journal could have sustained."''

Galleries

* 150 Henry William Brewer pictures are held by the

Victoria & Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

. * 26 Henry William Brewer paintings are held by the

Royal Collection Trust The Royal Collection of the British royal family is the largest private art collection in the world. Spread among 13 occupied and historic royal residences in the United Kingdom, the collection is owned by King Charles III and overseen by the ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brewer, Henry William British draughtsmen 1836 births 1903 deaths