Winter coaching scene by Penry Powell Palfrey 1880

Horse portrait and his lad by Penry Powell Palfrey

Penry Powell Palfrey (6 June 1830 – 22 August 1902) was a British stained glass designer and painter in watercolour of horses and coaching scenes.

Early life

Penry Powell Palfrey was born in London on 6 June 1829. He was interested in horses and coaching from a very young age and made models of out of cardboard of the coaches that stopped in London. His father died when Penry was 16, making him the main provider for his mother and five siblings.

Career

Around 1850, he obtained employment with Forsyth & Phyffers in

Guilford Street Guilford Street is a road in Bloomsbury in central London, England, designated the B502. From Russell Square it extends east-northeast to Gray's Inn Road. Note that it is not spelt the same way as Guildford in Surrey. It is, in fact, named after ...

, Russell Square. He soon after was allowed by his employer to work in the studio of

John Richard Clayton John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

Albany Street Albany Street is a road in London running from Marylebone Road to Gloucester Gate following the east side of Regent's Park. It is about three-quarters of a mile in length. History The street was laid out during the 1820s, and takes its name ...

, the founder in 1855 of the

stained glass Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...

workshop

Clayton and Bell Clayton and Bell was one of the most prolific and proficient British workshops of stained-glass windows during the latter half of the 19th century and early 20th century. The partners were John Richard Clayton (1827–1913) and Alfred Bell (1832� ...

. Palfrey soon became skilled in stained glass designs himself and produced many with his special interest of heraldic symbolism. He retained his interest in horses and coaching and painted those subjects in his spare time but did not practice in that area until later in life. Palfrey later became a noted painter of horses and coaching scenes and his pictures of

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gai ...

winners were admired by

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 ...

King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria a ...

and the Duke of Westminster.

Family

His daughter was Margaret Agnes Palfrey (1870–1936), and his granddaughter was the illustrator

Margaret Calkin James Margaret Calkin James (June 1895 - 1985), was a calligrapher, graphic designer, textile printer, watercolour painter and printmaker, and is best known for her posters designed for the London Underground and London Transport between 1928 and 19 ...

.Miles, Betty. (2005) ''At the sign of the rainbow: Margaret Calkin James 1895-1985''. Revised edition. Arrow Grange, Warwickshire: Felix Scribo. p. 6.

Death and legacy

Palfrey died on 22 August 1902."The late Penry Powell Palfrey", '' Baily’s Magazine of Sports and Pastimes'', October 1902, p. 231.

References

External links

* Designers from London 1830 births 1902 deaths Equine artists Stained glass artists and manufacturers English watercolourists Painters from London {{England-painter-stub