Herbert William Weekes (8 May 1841 – 21 November 1914) was a well-known English

genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...

and

animal painter An animal painter is an artist who specialises in (or is known for their skill in) the portrayal of animals. The ''OED'' dates the first express use of the term "animal painter" to the mid-18th century: by English physician, naturalist and wri ...

of the Victorian Neoclassical period who specialized in portraying animals in humorous, human-like situations.

Early life and family

Weekes was born in

Pimlico Pimlico () is an area of Central London in the City of Westminster, built as a southern extension to neighbouring Belgravia. It is known for its garden squares and distinctive Regency architecture. Pimlico is demarcated to the north by London V ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, England to a prominent artistic family: the youngest of five children, his father, Henry Weekes, Sr. (1807–1877), was a sculptor and

Royal Academician The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

; his brother, Henry, Jr. (fl. 1850–1884), was also a genre painter known for his animal studies; and his brother,

Frederick Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Nobility Anhalt-Harzgerode *Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) Austria * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198 * Frederick ...

(1833–1920), was an artist and expert on

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

costume and design.

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 Primrose Hill is a Grade II listed public park located north of Regent's Park in London, England, first opened to the public in 1842.Mills, A., ''Dictionary of London Place Names'', (2001) It was named after the natural hill in the centre of ...

. In 1865, he married artist Caroline Anne Henshaw (born ca. 1844), of

Hammersmith Hammersmith is a district of West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. ...

."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. Suspicion WmWeekes

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. 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. He was greatly influenced by one of the foremost animal painters of the nineteenth century, Sir

Edwin Henry Landseer Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (7 March 1802 – 1 October 1873) was an English painter and sculptor, well known for his paintings of animals – particularly horses, dogs, and stags. However, his best-known works are the lion sculptures at the bas ...

. Weekes contributed illustrations for ''

The Illustrated London News ''The Illustrated London News'' appeared first on Saturday 14 May 1842, as the world's first illustrated weekly news magazine. Founded by Herbert Ingram, it appeared weekly until 1971, then less frequently thereafter, and ceased publication in ...

'' 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”. 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: *

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

(59) *

Walker Art Gallery The Walker Art Gallery is an art gallery in Liverpool, which houses one of the largest art collections in England outside London. It is part of the National Museums Liverpool group. History of the Gallery The Walker Art Gallery's collection ...

, Liverpool (15) *

Royal Society of British Artists The Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy. History The RBA commenced with twenty-seven members, and took until 1876 to reach fif ...

(10) *

Royal Institute of Oil Painters The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, also known as ROI, is an association of painters in London, England, and is the only major art society which features work done only in oil. It is a member society of the Federation of British Artists. Histor ...

(8) *

Royal Birmingham Society of Artists The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists or RBSA is an art society, based in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, England, where it owns and operates an art gallery, the RBSA Gallery, on Brook Street, just off St Paul's Square. It is both a re ...

(6) * Arthur Tooth & Sons (3) *

Manchester City Art Gallery Manchester Art Gallery, formerly Manchester City Art Gallery, is a publicly owned art museum on Mosley Street in Manchester city centre. The main gallery premises were built for a learned society in 1823 and today its collection occupies three c ...

(3) *

Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts (RGI) is an independent organisation in Glasgow, founded in 1861, which promotes contemporary art and artists in Scotland. The institute organizes the largest and most prestigious annual art exhibitio ...

(2) *

Fine Art Society The Fine Art Society is a gallery based in both London and in Edinburgh's New Town (originally Bourne Fine Art, established 1978). The New Bond Street, London gallery closed its doors in August 2018 after being occupied by The Fine Art Society si ...

(1) *

Grosvenor Gallery The Grosvenor Gallery was an art gallery in London founded in 1877 by Sir Coutts Lindsay and his wife Blanche. Its first directors were J. Comyns Carr and Charles Hallé. The gallery proved crucial to the Aesthetic Movement because it provided ...

(1) Weekes died on 21 November 1914 and was buried on 28 November in

Hampstead Cemetery Hampstead Cemetery is a historic cemetery in West Hampstead, London, located at the upper extremity of the NW6 district. Despite the name, the cemetery is three-quarters of a mile from Hampstead Village, and bears a different postcode. It is j ...

(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 PartiesStreet Acrobats
*A Stump Oration *

Suspicion Suspicion is a feeling of mistrust. Suspicion(s), The Suspicion, or Suspicious may also refer to: Film and television Film * ''Suspicion'' (1918 film), an American silent film directed by John M. Stahl * ''Suspicion'' (1941 film), an American ...

*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

References

External links

WikiGallery entry for Herbert William Weekes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weekes, Herbert William 1841 births 1914 deaths 19th-century English painters English male painters 20th-century English painters British genre painters Neoclassical painters British neoclassical painters Animal artists People from Pimlico 20th-century English male artists 19th-century English male artists