Charles Robinson

Key facts

Lived

1870–1937, American^[1]

Wikipedia

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• What is Charles Robinson known for?+

  Charles Robinson is known for his illustrations in children's books. His illustrations for Robert Louis Stevenson's 'A Child's Garden of Verses' (1896^[1]) made him a leading figure in British illustration.
• What is Charles Robinson's most famous work?+

  It is difficult to name one single work as Charles Robinson's most famous. He was a prolific artist and illustrator, active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Robinson is now best known for his distinctive illustrations in children's books and periodicals. He produced artwork for various publications, including *The Graphic* and *Black and White*. However, Robinson achieved particular recognition for his contributions to children's literature. He illustrated classic stories such as *Grimm's Fairy Tales*, *Andersen's Fairy Tales*, *A Child's Garden of Verses*, and *The Secret Garden*. His imaginative and detailed artwork brought these stories to life for generations of readers. Robinson's style often incorporated elements of Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement, adding a unique aesthetic to his illustrations.
• What should I know about Charles Robinson's prints?+

  Charles Robinson was a Pre-Raphaelite associate who, although not a member of the Brotherhood, sympathised with their ideals. He served as an advisor, and in time, he became influenced by them. He embraced their finely finished style, contemporary subject matter, and heightened awareness of colour. Prints connected to Robinson are generally reproductive, rather than original designs. However, he experimented with etching and lithography, producing an oil study of Lake Windermere which he turned into a lithograph. He also produced the etching Cordelia for the Pre-Raphaelites’ The Germ, and he created wood-engraved illustrations. George Wooliscraft Rhead, a talented painter, illustrator, art critic, and printmaker, produced three etchings after Robinson: The Dream of Sardanopolus, and two designs for the Manchester Town Hall frescos: Crabtree making the first observation of the traces of Venus, and The Building of Manchester by the Romans. All three were large, competent reproductive etchings printed in sepia ink on Japan paper, and signed by both Brown and Rhead.
• What style or movement did Charles Robinson belong to?+

  Charles Robinson is associated with the Arts and Crafts movement, which emerged in Britain during the 1880s. This significant artistic movement was inspired by William Morris and rejected the commercial expansion that characterised the Victorian era. The Arts and Crafts movement advocated the idea that art and craft could improve people's lives. Designers and makers, such as C.R. Ashbee, Ernest Gimson, Phoebe Traquair, and C.F.A. Voysey, established high standards for design and craftwork. The movement influenced design and craftwork across the world. It promoted functional and decorative work. Arts and Crafts practitioners aimed to change the motive for dressing from competitive rivalry into an act of reverence towards the body, expressive of the higher qualities of mind.
• What techniques or materials did Charles Robinson use?+

  Without specific information on Charles Robinson's methods, we can consider the broader context of artistic techniques and materials. Artists often make choices that extend beyond the limitations of their chosen medium. Understanding these techniques and processes is necessary to appreciate the aesthetic decisions made by the artist. This knowledge allows for a more engaged and informed perspective on art history. Some artists use Cobra Water-Miscible Oils, brushes (including flat watercolour brushes and riggers), and tools such as spray bottles, squeegees, cotton swabs, and scrapers. Artists' quality paints are preferred for their colour saturation, permanence, and stability. Hog hair brushes, especially well-worn ones, are favoured for their ability to apply oil paint broadly and restrain excessively edgy marks. Surfaces used for painting include gessoed MDF, primed canvas stuck to MDF, and primed canvas, all of artists’ quality. Some artists prime and stretch their own canvases as a preparation for painting.
• What was Charles Robinson known for?+

  There appear to be two artists named Charles Henry, active in the 19th century, who are known for different things. Charles Henry Bennett (1828-1867^[1]) was an illustrator and self-taught artist. He drew inspiration from the busy marketplace near his childhood home in Covent Garden. His illustrations for Bunyan’s *Pilgrim’s Progress* are among his best-known works. Bennett also produced illustrations for *Aesop’s Fables* and *Shadows*. His work included both lighter, more fanciful subjects and serious, considered observations. Charles Rochussen (1814-1894^[1]) was a Dutch painter and illustrator. Born in Rotterdam, he studied at the Hague Academy. Rochussen is known for his illustrations of Dutch daily life and historical scenes. He contributed illustrations to periodicals and books, gaining popularity for his detailed and often humorous depictions of 19th-century Dutch society.
• Where can I see Charles Robinson's work?+

  You can find examples of Charles Robinson's work in several museums internationally. In the United States, these include the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American^[1] Art (Winter Park, Florida), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Minneapolis), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond), and the Wolfsonian at Florida International University (Miami Beach). In Canada, his work can be viewed at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Within the United Kingdom, you can see Robinson's art at the Bakelite Museum (Williton), the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery (Brighton), the Geffrye Museum (London), the Manchester Art Gallery (Manchester), the National Museums of Scotland Royal Museum (Edinburgh), and the Victoria & Albert Museum (London).
• Who did Charles Robinson influence?+

  Charles Robinson's artistic influence is difficult to document with certainty; however, some connections can be observed. The French Impressionist movement drew heavily on J.M.W. Turner's renderings of light and atmosphere. Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro visited London in 1870^[1] and were deeply impressed with an exhibition of Turner's works there. An etching of one of Turner’s later pictures, *Rain, Steam, and Speed: The Great Western Railway*, was also influential. Paul Cézanne and Willem de Kooning identified Gustave Courbet as a source of inspiration. Cézanne's *Bridge at Maincy* (1879^[1]-80) invokes Courbet's *Shaded Stream* (1865). Connections to Courbet are rooted in technique, such as his use of the palette knife. Jeff Wall's photograph *The Drain* (1989) is traced back to Courbet, via Cézanne. Jean-Michel Basquiat signalled his admiration for Charlie Parker's methods by painting the word 'Cherokee' in the upper-right corner of *Charles the First* (1982). The word became shorthand for referencing Parker. Basquiat used motifs from his library of world history and art books as favourite devices.
• Who influenced Charles Robinson?+

  Charles Robinson's influences are not directly documented in the provided texts. However, the passages discuss artistic influences and teaching methods that can provide context. One passage discusses Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran, who rejected the masterclass system, and instead encouraged students to use nature as their exclusive model. His approach promoted naturalism, with students carefully recording subjective visual perception. John Ruskin also promoted naturalism, advocating for the accurate depiction of nature and landscape. Another passage mentions the Bauhaus, where teachers were practitioners who acted as models for students. The Bauhaus preliminary course had two models: expressionist and formalist. Johannes Itten, who developed the Bauhaus's preliminary course, aimed to facilitate self-expression. Josef Albers focused on objective rules of form and colour. Paul Klee, a teacher at the Bauhaus, followed transcendentalist philosophy, aiming to create his own style devoid of preconceptions. He taught Annelise Else Frieda Fleischmann, who considered him a genius for combining abstract and geometric elements with natural and organic forms. Klee was also close friends with Wassily Kandinsky.
• Who was Charles Robinson?+

  Charles Robinson (1870^[1]-1937^[1]) was a British book illustrator and artist. He is best known for his contributions to children's literature during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Islington, London, Robinson came from a family of artists; his father and two of his brothers also worked as illustrators. He studied at the West London School of Art, beginning his career by working for publishers and printers. Robinson's early work included illustrations for books such as Robert Louis Stevenson's *A Child's Garden of Verses* (1895^[1]). His style often incorporated elements of Art Nouveau, with flowing lines and decorative details. He frequently employed watercolour, pen, and ink. Later in his career, he developed a more individual style, moving away from the overt influence of Aubrey Beardsley and other artists. Throughout his career, Robinson illustrated numerous other popular children's books, including fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, plus editions of *The Secret Garden* and *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland*. He also wrote and illustrated his own children's books, such as *The Happy Prince and Other Tales* (1913). Robinson's illustrations are recognisable for their imaginative qualities and their appeal to both children and adults.
• Why are Charles Robinson's works important today?+

  Without specific context about Charles Robinson's work, I can offer some general thoughts on why art from the past remains important. Art provides insights into historical periods. Styles, subjects, and materials reflect the values and beliefs of the time in which they were created. Examining art helps us understand past cultures. Art can also offer emotional connection. As one source notes, art provides "emotionally stirring investigations of the human condition". Although styles and tastes change, fundamental human experiences remain consistent. Artworks that explore these experiences continue to resonate. Finally, art history gives us a perspective on the present. By studying the art of the past, we can see how artistic styles and movements have evolved. We can also understand how past artists have influenced those working today. This knowledge enriches our understanding of contemporary art.
• What was Charles Robinson's art style?+

  Charles Robinson's line work became associated with a decorative fantasy style. This style sat between Victorian delicacy and Art Nouveau flourish.