Lewis Lupton
Lewis Frederick Lupton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 July 1909 London, England |
| Died | 16 July 1996 (aged 87) London, England |
| Occupation | Artist and author |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Sheffield college of Arts and Crafts |
| Genres | Historical and Fiction |
| Spouses | Phyllis Joan Lupton (m. 1934–1996, his death) |
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Lewis Frederick Lupton (1909- 1996) was a British artist, author, and illustrator. After studying art at Sheffield he worked as a commercial artist in Sheffield and London. During World War 2 he worked on campaigns for the Ministries of Food, Information, Fuel and Power. In the 1940s he exhibited oil paintings at the Royal Academy. In the 1950s he designed several exhibitions, and illustrated children's literature. From 1960 he wrote, illustrated and published a 25 Volume History of the English Bible.
Early Life and career[edit]
Lewis Lupton was the oldest of 7 children, born to Frederick J Lupton, (draper) and Lilian Love Lupton in Fulham, London. In 1912 the family moved to Sheffield when his Father found work at Robert's Brothers Department Store. From his early days at school he showed a gift for drawing. At the age of 12 he went to the newly opened pre-apprenticeship school, and then aged 14 he won a scholarship to Sheffield college of Arts and Crafts. He followed a broad based Arts and Crafts course for 2 years followed by 4 years in the painting school.The painting tutor, Anthony Betts[1], inspired students to paint in the style of the impressionists: Cezanne, Degas, Renoir. [2] Lupton achieved success in the Board of Education Drawing and Painting Examinations in 1928 and 1929.
On graduation Lupton taught briefly at Doncaster Art School ,and then worked at Stanleys Commercial Art Studio in Sheffield. In 1934 he was invited by Victor Askew, fellow pupil of pre-apprenticeship school, Sheffield, to join Askew Younge Studios, on The Strand, London. Lewis married fellow art student Joan Ainger in Sheffield in June 1934, and they moved to London. Work at Askew Younge was varied; ranging from book jackets to Marconi advertising.
In 1940 the Studio closed, the Luptons were bombed out of their home in Chiswick, London, and Lupton became a self employed artist. Having registered as a conscientious objector, after a tribunal in 1942, he received an unconditional discharge.[2] Mr F Keil, of City Display Organisation, who had seen Lupton's illustrations for Macmillan books ‘Machines’[3] and ‘Ships'[4], contacted him, and for the next 15 years obtained commissions for him. His first project was to decorate the boarded up windows of GEC's Magnet House, on Kingsway, with themes such as ‘This England’. [5]
Keil's introduction to the Ministries of Food, Information, and Fuel and Power secured work throughout the war; posters and displays for Food Advice Centres, a campaign to encourage people to eat home-grown potatoes rather than bread,’[6]and the Dig for Victory campaign. He designed exhibitions for Aid China and United Nations Information Organisation, and Energy saving posters for the Ministry of Fuel and Power.
Lupton continued to illustrate books for several Publishers, including Collins (Book for Boys)[7], Sampson Lowe, Dent, and Macmillan.
From 1940 to 1949 Lupton exhibited 21 oil paintings at the Royal Academy summer exhibition.[8] Some of these were hung 'on the line'. [9][10]
3. Post War Era
In 1948 his oil painting 'The Thames East from Kew Bridge’ was chosen by Arts Council for their national tour.
In the same year he was selected to design an Exhibition ‘Is the the Way?’ [5]for the British and Foreign Bible Society at St Bride’s Institute.
Other commissions included:
- 1947 Displays for National Coal Board
- Road Safety Exhibitions for ROSPA.
- 1949 mural for British Iron and Steel Federation Scottish Exhibition( designer Rotter)[11]
- Design for State Room of RMS Caronia,
- 1951 ‘Faith Of Britain’ Exhibition in St Paul’s Cathedral Crypt, concurrently with Festival of Britain [5]
- 1953 designs for Coronation street decorations in various cities- Brighton, Kensington, Leeds, Sheffield.
- 1953 BFBs Exhibition ‘We want to Live’ exhibition at the Royal Exchange
- 1958 mural for BISF at Expo 58 in Brussels.
- Ideal Homes Exhibition - Hoover and other stands
- BIF ( British Industries Federation) displays for many firms including GEC, Daimler
4 1950s Scripture Union
From 1948 - 1965 Lupton worked with Scripture Union, illustrating their books and publications. He developed his characteristic style of colourful book jackets with ‘scraper board’ illustrations. Books he illustrated included several by children's authors, Patricia St John[12] and A Morgan Derham.[13]
5 1960s Author and Publisher
1965 saw a change of direction, as Lupton used the skills he had honed over the years in illustration and book design, to write and illustrate his own work. His first book was a tale for children ‘Red Indian Peril’ (Fauconberg Press 1965), closely followed by ‘Captured’[14] the same year.
The next year saw the Publication of the first volume of his magnum opus ‘The History of the Geneva Bible’ :‘The Quarrel’. ’[15]’[16] These books showed him to be 'An artist with words as well as with brush and pen’'[17] ‘and 'not only the eye of an artist but also the nose of the true historian’ [18]
Originally intended to be 7 volumes long, the series expanded to 25 volumes and would take the next 30 years to complete. From volume 8 onwards each page was hand written.
6 Painting - a New Direction
In the 1960s Lupton found himself with more time to devote to painting. He developed a new lighter, brighter painting style; his 'style changed from the sombre tones of his early pictures.'[19] His love of English countryside and architecture was shown in his colourful landscapes in oil and watercolour. Many of his subjects were linked to the historical research for his books. He painted scenes of family life, influenced by the Impressionists and French artist Bonnard. At the same time Joan Lupton returned to painting after bringing up the family.
Together they toured the country with mobile exhibitions between 1967 and 1970, visiting country towns including Norwich, Buxton, and Totnes. Their paintings received favourable press coverage and brought their work to a wider audience.’[20]
7. ‘The Sistine Chapel Comes to Chiswick' [6]
In the 1960s Lupton ' transformed his home in Chiswick with a series of murals with a religious theme, a vast panorama illustrating biblical scenes from Genesis to Revelation. The 30ft by 20ft painting covered the ceiling of the living-room, and took 10 years to complete.’ [6]
In later years physical limitations restricted Lupton’s painting tours, but he continued sketching in his local area, Chiswick and The Thames.
He continued to work from home, writing ‘a page a day’ [5] of his Geneva Bible series and illustrating each volume. Volume 26 on Cranmer, remains unpublished.
References[edit]
- ↑ "James Anthony Betts 1897 -1980". British Museum.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Murray, Iaian (October 1996). "Lewis Lupton 'Mr Standfast'". The Banner of Truth: 16–21.
- ↑ Reed, Brian (1940). The World Goes by Machines. London: Oxford University Press. pp. All. Search this book on
- ↑ Hardy, A C (1940). Ships. London: Oxford University Press. pp. All. Search this book on
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Brake, Donald L (2011). A Visual History of the English Bible. Gran Rapids Michigan: Baker Books. p. 69. Search this book on
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Daley, Bill (28 January 1988). "The Sistine Chapel Comes to Chiswick". Evening Standard.
- ↑ Beck, Christopher (1942). Collins Book for Boys. London: Collins. pp. Cover and frontispiece. Search this book on
- ↑ "Sheffield Telegraph and Independant". 29 April 1940.
- ↑ . 23 May 1941 [Worksop Guardian Worksop Guardian] Check
|url=value (help). Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Sheffield Telegraph. 11 November 1943. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Atkinson, Harriet (2012). The Festival of Britain. I B Taurus Ltd. pp. 58, 210. Search this book on
- ↑ St John, Patricia (1954). Treasures of the Snow. CSSM. Search this book on
- ↑ Derham, A Morgan (1948). On the Trail of the Windward. CSSM. Search this book on
- ↑ Lupton, Lewis (1965). Captured. London: The Fauconberg Press. Search this book on
- ↑ Lupton, Lewis (1966). The Quarrel. London: The Fauconberg Press. pp. Introduction. Search this book on
- ↑ Myers, R Andrew (7 August 2018). [wwwhttp://virginiahuguenot.blogspot.com "Lewis Lupton - The Michelangelo of Chiswick"].
- ↑ Packer, J I. The History of the Geneva Bible volume 3. The Olive Tree. pp. Introduction. Search this book on
- ↑ Lloyd Jones, D M. A History of the Geneva Bible Volume 4. The Olive Tree. pp. Introduction. Search this book on
- ↑ Kendall, Ena (January 1988). "A Room of My Own - Joan and Lewis Lupton". The Observer Colour Supplement.
- ↑ "Innocence with Subtlety". Croydon Advertiser. 7 June 1968.
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