A/03/49 W. Howard Robinson: Collection Lewisham Local History and Archives Centre Lewisham Library, 199-201 Lewisham High Street, London SE13 6LG The following items were received from Mrs Gillian Lindsay: Introduction W. (William) Howard Robinson was a noted representative artist and portrait painter of the early twentieth century. He was born on 3 November 1864 in Inverness-shire and attended Dulwich College from 1876 to 1882. He followed his father, William Robinson, into the Law and after a brief legal career studied Art at the Slade School under Sir Simeon Solomon. His professional career as a portrait painter began circa 1910 when his interest in the sport of fencing led him to sketch all the leading fencers of the day, these sketches were reproduced in the sporting publication “The Field” leading to further commissions for portraits with a sporting theme. He became well-known for his sketches and portraits of figures in the sporting world such as Lord Lonsdale, Chairman of the National Sporting Club. His two best known paintings were “An Evening at the National Sporting Club” (1918) and “A Welsh Victory at the National Sporting Club” (1922). This first painting was of the boxing match between Jim Driscoll and Joe Bowker, it took Robinson four years to complete and contained details of 329 sporting celebrities. The second painting commemorated the historic boxing match between Jimmy Wilde and Joe Lynch that took place on 31 March 1919 and shows the Prince of Wales entering the ring to congratulate the victor, the first time that a member of the royal family had done so. W. Howard Robinson also worked extensively for the society magazine “The Bystander” (which amalgamated with “The Tatler”) and produced sketches on a weekly basis of debutantes and society figures. He was commissioned to paint many leading figures of the time including politicians and members of the Royal Family including King George V, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), the Duke of York (later King George VI) and Marina, Duchess of Kent. In 1927 he founded the British Empire Academy with his patron, Lord Howard de Walden, and became its Vice-chairman. Its mission was to “To promote, aid and unite all the Arts throughout the Empire”. Acquired by: Donation Access: Open, unless condition is 3 or below then contact the Local History and Archives Centre for limited access. Also I folder in this collection is closed until 01 January 2082 Date of accession: 9 October 2003 Accession number: A/03/49 Listed: MT 5/07 Covering Dates: 1910-1939 Extent: 60 Items A/03/49/ A/03/49/1/ Letters to W. Howard Robinson 1917-1939 1 File A/03/49/1/01 Letter from the Master of the Household of 26 November 1917 Buckingham Palace to W. Howard Robinson Requesting that an engraving of a painting by WHR be sent to the King (George V). Condition: 2 Note: included also is a “post-it” note dated 4 September 1995 making reference to this letter being shown to Christies for valuation purposes – the “Gill” referred to in the note is most probably the Depositor. 1 Item (2 pieces) A/03/49/1/02 Letter (photocopy) from Godfrey Thomas at St 30 July 1934 James’s Palace to W. Howard Robinson (with typed transcript) Refusing WHR’s request for an appointment with the Prince of Wales for another portrait sitting. Condition: 2 1 Item (3 pieces) A/03/49/1/03 Letter from the Art Editor of “The Bystander” to W. 9 June 1937 Howard Robinson Commissioning WHR to paint a portrait of the Duchess of Kent (Princess Marina.). Condition: 2 1 Item A/03/49/1/04 Letter from James Butler to W. Howard Robinson. 9 May 1939 Concerning the possible purchase by the National Sporting Club of one of WHR’s paintings and offering advice regarding other potential purchasers. Condition: 2 1 Item A/03/49/2/ Scrapbook 1910-1936 1 File Consists of 11 loose leaf pages from a scrapbook containing news cuttings concerning WHR’s life and work and also some photographs relating to the same. A/03/49/2/01 1 page of scrapbook 1923 Four black and white photographs of WHR taken at the Arlington Galleries, Bond Street WHR pictured standing in front of four of his paintings (unidentified). WHR pictured standing in front of his painting of the “An Irish Evening in the Kitchen of the 1900 Club”. WHR and 3 unknown companions standing in front of his painting “A Welsh Victory at the National Sporting Club”. WHR and unknown companion pictured standing in front of 5 of his paintings (unidentified). Condition 2 1 Item A/03/49/2/02 1 page of scrapbook containing fifteen news 1917-1921 cuttings Daily Mirror. 24 July 1920 News item concerning a future exhibition by WHR and reporting that he is currently working on a portrait of a member of the Royal Family. Empire Illustrated September 1919 News cutting picture of WHR at work on his cartoon of the Prince of Wales. Daily Mail Paris edition, undated News cutting picture of WHR at work on his cartoon of the Prince of Wales. News of the World 30 October 1921 Article on WHR’s progress in painting the Wilde vs. Lynch boxing match and news cutting picture of him dancing with Miss Jean Robertson. Daily Mail 30 August 1922 News cutting picture of WHR at work on his cartoon of the Prince of Wales. The Field. 3 November 1917 Article on WHR’s painting “An Evening at the National Sporting Club” and information on how readers could obtain copies of this painting. Evening Standard 2 August 1919 Report on the Prince of Wales sitting for WHR as part of the preparation for his painting the Wilde vs. Moore boxing match. Weekly Dispatch 10 August 1919 Report on the Prince of Wales sitting for WHR as part of the preparation for painting the Wilde vs Moore boxing match. Unattributed, news cutting regarding an anecdote Undated concerning WHR’s painting of Jack Angle, the boxing referee. Daily Graphic 4 August 1919 Report concerning the Prince of Wales sitting for WHR for a painting showing him congratulating Jimmy Wilde and Joe Lynch after their boxing match at the National Sporting Club. Weekly Dispatch 3 August 1919 Report concerning the Prince of Wales sitting for WHR for a painting showing him congratulating Jimmy Wilde and Joe Lynch after their boxing match at the National Sporting Club. Daily News 4 August 1919 Report concerning the Prince of Wales sitting for WHR for a painting showing him congratulating Jimmy Wilde and Joe Lynch after their boxing match at the National Sporting Club. Sunday Times 3 August 1919 Report concerning the Prince of Wales sitting for WHR for a painting showing him congratulating Jimmy Wilde and Joe Lynch after their boxing match at the National Sporting Club. Yorkshire ? Undated Report concerning the Prince of Wales sitting for WHR for a painting showing him congratulating Jimmy Wilde and Joe Lynch after their boxing match at the National Sporting Club. The Empire Illustrated Undated Page showing a colour cartoon entitled “The Prince” by WHR Condition: 2 I Item A/03/49/2/03 1 page of scrapbook containing 10 news cuttings 31 December 1910 The Field. 8 pictures of paintings by WHR on a fencing theme including pictures of Captain Alfred Hutton (2 copies), Felix Bertrand, E. M. Amphlett, Cecil H Haig, Lord Desborough and the Captain of the English Fencing team. Also a copy of a poem entitled “The Fencer’s Song” written by the Editor of the Field. Condition: 2 I item A/03/49/2/04 1 page of scrapbook. 1918 Containing 9 news cuttings from the following publications all reporting that the King has accepted an engraving of WHR’s painting “An Evening at the National Sporting Club”. Daily Sketch 24 January 1918 Sporting Life 24 January 1918 Daily Chronicle 24 January 1918 Leeds Mercury 25 January 1918 Irish Times 25 January 1918 The Sketch 30 January 1918 News cutting of picture of WHR’s painting “An Evening at the NSC” Condition: 2 1 item A/03/49/2/05 1 page of scrapbook 1918-1919 Containing 8 news cuttings Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News 2 February 1918 Half-page news cutting of picture of “An Evening at the National Sporting Club”. The Mirror of Life and Boxing World 19 January 1918 Letter from J. Frank Bradley reproducing a letter from WHR dated 4 January 1918 in which he presented him with an Artists proof of “An Evening at the National Sporting Club” as a gift. Sporting Chronicle 8 June 1918 News item on WHR being appointed a 2nd Lieutenant Evening News 3 December 1919 Letter to the Editor from WHR in which he offers his opinion on the boxing match Beckett vs Carpentier Sunday Evening Telegraph Date obscured News item reporting on the possibility of “A Night (sic) at the National Sporting Club” being taken to America. Unattributed news cutting reporting that the Duke Undated of York is to be painted in RAF Uniform by WHR News of the World 18 August 1919 News item on the Prince of Wales sitting for WHR for a painting showing him congratulating the boxers Jimmy Wilde and Joe Lynch. The Tatler 30 January 1918 Full page news cutting picture of “An Evening at the National Sporting Club” Condition: 2 1 Item A/03/49/2/06 1 page of scrapbook 1931-1936 Containing 4 news cuttings Daily Sketch 4 August 1934 News cutting picture of WHR with his portrait of the Prince of Wales portrayed as Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club Daily Telegraph 2 May 1936 News cutting picture of WHR painting his son Michael in the boxing ring following his winning the 4 stone championship of the London Preparatory Schools The Star Undated (1931?) Item referring to the Ice Carnival held on 30 October 1930 attended by the Prince of Wales and painted by WHR Unattributed news cutting 13 April 1935 Report of an exhibition of aeronautical pictures including two by WHR; a picture of the Prince of Wales and another entitled “Air Minded”.