Helen Allingham was a British watercolourist and illustrator, known for her charming and detailed depictions of rural life and landscapes. She was one of the few females of her time to achieve widespread recognition and commercial success and her work remains popular and influential today.
Born in Derbyshire, England, Allingham showed an early aptitude for art and was encouraged by her parents to pursue her talent. She studied at the Birmingham School of Design and the Royal Academy School in London, where she specialised in watercolours.
Still Life's and Portraits
Allingham's early works focused on still life's and portraits, but it was her depictions of rural life that gathered the most attention. She was inspired by the countryside from her youth and the rural landscapes of Surrey where she lived with her husband and fellow artist William Allingham. Her paintings often featured quaint cottages, picturesque villages and idyllic countryside scenes; she had a talent for capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow in her watercolours.
This is a beautifully compact composition, bright and fresh throughout, with neat details and quintessential Allingham elements: the old thatched home, the characterful but realistic figures, the burgeoning hedgerows, the little cat and a nostalgic charm.
At Chideock, Dorset, signed watercolour, 23 x 18.5cm.
Sold for £7,500 17th Jan 2020 at Lawrences Auctioneers, Crewkerne
Allingham's work was highly sought after by publishers and she became a prolific illustrator of books and magazines. She provided illustrations for a wide range of publications, including the Cornhill Magazine, the Graphic, and Blackie & Sons children's books. Her illustrations were characterised by their intricate detail and delicate use of colour and they helped establish her reputation as one of the most talented watercolourists of her time.
Portrait of Thomas Carlyle, historian and essayist (1795-1881) 13.75 x 15.5cm.
Allingham made numerous sketches of Carlyle, particularly in the later stages of his life, winning him over despite his initial grumbling, and when he saw the finished watercolours that resulted from her sketches, he conceded that he was impressed by her portraiture.
Important Memberships
In addition to her commercial success, Allingham was also recognised by her peers. She was elected to the Royal Watercolour Society in 1890 and became the first female to be granted full membership in the Royal Society of British Artists in 1898. She was also a member of the Society of Female Artists and the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours.
Today, Allingham's paintings and illustrations are highly collectible, and her work can be found in many public and private collections. Her legacy as a pioneering woman artist and her contribution to the English watercolour tradition continues to be celebrated and admired by art lovers around the world.