Art History

I have a particular interest in Victorian and Edwardian Art.

I have conducted a little research into the life and art of William Shackleton (1872-1933) , who in his later years lived in Hill Top Cottage at Malham , North Yorkshire. One of his pastimes at Malham was rock gardening. The background to this page is the remnant of the swan fountain to be seen overlooking the Cove Road to this day.

These are pictures by him that I have seen in public galleries. His paintings are very much of the Victorian and Edwardian era but his style is distinctive and defies classification. Perhaps because his style borrowed from artists long ago as well as contemporary, meant that he was never truly original. But no-one painted quite like him. Maybe a lack of consistency of quality and finish kept him from the front rank of artists. Nevertheless he deserves more attention beyond the Bradford area where he was born.

Title	Gallery
The Polar Star, 1920.	Bradford
A love lyric, 1901.	Bradford
Shadow of Dreams, 1910.	Bradford
City of Golden Gates	Preston

There is not a great deal published about Shackleton's life and art. A good secondary source of information is The Last Romantics, edited by John Christian.

In this book there is a reproduction of Line of Life. Shackleton himself peers out of the painting which is very much a key work. Published in 1915 it was at a critical time of his life and of the art world in general. The past certainties were crumbling. The future lay with Modern Art.

There is a memorial stone to William Shackleton in Kirkby Malham Churchyard. Use the link below to view some excellent online images of typical Shackleton paintings.

Watercolour | Cycling