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Key facts
- Lived
- 1870–1923, British
- Movements
- Works held in
- 3 museums[1]
Biography
He was born in London in 1870, learned stained glass from his father, and encountered Burne-Jones and Puvis de Chavannes during extended stays in France and Italy. His speciality became murals and war memorials in churches. He died in Paris in 1923.
Timeline
- 1870Born in London, the son of Edward Frampton, a stained-glass artist from whom he most likely learned his craft.
- 1894Aged 24, elected a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in London. He had begun his career with landscape painting before turning to figurative work.
- 1900Aged 30, after a lengthy stay in France and Italy and seeing an exhibition of the collected works of Burne-Jones, he devoted himself to painting the human form in a flat, decorative style influenced by Puvis de Chavannes and early Italian painting.
- 1907Aged 37, completed The Passage of the Holy Grail to Sarras, a large mural composition reflecting his mature style: solemn figures, muted colour, and the deliberate absence of highlights and cast shadows.
- 1917Aged 47, exhibited Saint Cecilia at the Royal Academy in London. He also produced war memorial murals for churches during this period.
- 1923Died in Paris on 4 November, aged 53. His work was exhibited posthumously at the Paris Salon in the same year and at the Fine Art Society in London in 1925.
Notable Works
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Where to See Edward Reginald Frampton
2 museums worldwide.
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1 works
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery
Lister Park, United Kingdom
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1 works
Museum of Croydon
Croydon, United Kingdom
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Edward Reginald Frampton known for?
Edward Reginald Frampton is known for his murals and war memorials in churches. His paintings deliberately eliminated highlights and cast shadows.What is Edward Reginald Frampton's most famous work?
It is difficult to name Edward Reginald Frampton's single most famous work with certainty. He was a painter and designer associated with the Arts and Crafts movement, and he produced a variety of works in different media. Some sources might point to his religious-themed pieces, such as stained glass designs or altar panels, as particularly significant. These would have been viewed by a wide audience in churches and cathedrals. Frampton also created secular decorative paintings and illustrations, some of which gained recognition in his time. Without specific data on the reception and reproduction of his individual works, it is hard to assess which achieved the broadest recognition. Further research into exhibition records, print sales, and critical reviews from the period would be needed to determine his most well-known piece.What should I know about Edward Reginald Frampton's prints?
Edward Reginald Frampton (1870-1923) was a British painter and stained glass designer. He is best known for allegorical and religious subjects. Frampton's style often incorporated elements of the Arts and Crafts movement. Frampton studied at the Westminster School of Art. There, he was influenced by Frederick Brown. He later became an instructor himself. His artistic output included oil paintings, watercolours, and, significantly, designs for stained glass windows. These windows can be found in churches throughout England. Prints of Frampton's works often reproduce his paintings and stained glass designs. These reproductions allow collectors to engage with his aesthetic. His paintings often feature clear lines and muted colours. The prints capture these qualities, offering an accessible way to appreciate Frampton's artistic vision. They provide insight into the late nineteenth and early twentieth century British art scene. They also show the period's interest in symbolism and craftsmanship.What style or movement did Edward Reginald Frampton belong to?
Edward Reginald Frampton is associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement, which had connections to the Pre-Raphaelites and Symbolism, gained traction in Britain during the late 19th century. Frampton, like other Arts and Crafts artists, did not revere Greek statuary, nor did he necessarily favour marble. Instead, he approached materials with respect, believing in "truth to materials". He saw himself as an "art-worker", not wanting to be restricted by the title of sculptor. Frampton's busts, such as *Mysteriarch* and *Lamia*, reflect the Pre-Raphaelite medievalism embraced by many in the Arts and Crafts movement. The subject of *Lamia* shows a shared fascination with Keatsian Romanticism, similar to that of Burne-Jones, Rossetti, and William Morris. Frampton also created statuettes of St George, and statues based on Tudor models. His *Lamia*, exhibited at the Academy in 1900, was made of bronze, ivory and opals.What techniques or materials did Edward Reginald Frampton use?
Edward Reginald Frampton worked with a variety of materials and techniques. Painters through the ages have used materials such as natural and chemical pigment in fresco, egg tempera, watercolour and oil. More contemporary materials include acrylics, household emulsions and mixed media. Edward Wadsworth, a contemporary, favoured a precise style and cared passionately about technique. He abandoned oil painting in favour of tempera. Tempera involves mixing powder pigments with a binder, usually egg yolk mixed with water and acetic acid. The pigment dries rapidly, so colour is built up gradually by laying thin coats or hatched strokes. Wadsworth would draw his composition in pencil upon the gesso ground. Some lines were scored into the gesso to guide his brush. Artists’ quality paints are always preferable, as lesser quality will not provide satisfying colour saturation. Hog hair brushes are useful for a broader, more expansive use of oil paint. Grounds include gessoed MDF, primed canvas stuck to MDF, and primed canvas.What was Edward Reginald Frampton known for?
Edward Reginald Frampton (active early 20th century) was an artist associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. He worked across media, but is best known for sculpture and stained glass. Frampton's sculptures, such as *Mysteriarch* and *Lamia*, reflect the Pre-Raphaelite medievalism common within the Arts and Crafts movement. *Lamia*, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1900, was made of bronze, ivory, and opals. The subject matter of *Lamia* shows a fascination with Keatsian Romanticism, a trait shared with artists like Burne-Jones, Rossetti, and William Morris. He also produced statuettes of St George, and statues based on Tudor models. The Art Journal of November 1897 called George Frampton "an all-round craftsman" who "prefers to be known as an art-worker, and not by the more restricted title of sculptor". Arts and Crafts artists aimed to reunite the arts, so that both craft and art would benefit from co-operation.When did Edward Reginald Frampton live and work?
Edward Reginald Frampton was active as an artist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He exhibited at the Glasgow Institute between February and May of 1901, 1902, and 1903. He also exhibited at the Liverpool Walker Art Gallery in the autumn of those same years. Frampton continued to exhibit in Glasgow between February and May of 1910. During his career, Frampton's work was shown alongside pieces by artists such as Sir George Clausen, David Gauld, George Henry, and John Lavery. He was working at the same time as artists such as Walter Sickert, who had a one-man show at the Carfax Gallery in January 1911, and Spencer Gore, who died in 1914.Where can I see Edward Reginald Frampton's work?
To view work by Edward Reginald Frampton, several institutions hold relevant collections. In London, the Victoria and Albert Museum[1] has material related to the Arts and Crafts movement, to which Frampton belonged. Elsewhere in the UK, the Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum in Gloucestershire has an accessible collection relating to the Arts and Crafts Movement. The Court Barn Museum in Chipping Campden, also in Gloucestershire, focuses on craft and design in the North Cotswolds from the Arts and Crafts Movement onwards. Belgrave Hall Museum in Leicester has an Arts and Crafts dining room, although opening times may be restricted. All Saints Church, Brockhampton, near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, features Arts and Crafts furnishings. Other locations with connections to the Arts and Crafts movement include the Red House in Bexleyheath, Kent; St Mary the Virgin, Great Warley, in Brentwood, Essex; Standen, in East Grinstead, West Sussex; Watts Gallery and Mortuary Chapel, in Compton, Guildford, Surrey; and the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, London.Where was Edward Reginald Frampton from?
Unfortunately, the provided texts do not contain information about Edward Reginald Frampton's place of birth or origin. However, the passages do provide biographical details for several other artists. John Edwards was born in London in 1938. He attended Hornsey College of Art, served in the Royal Air Force, and taught at Brighton College of Art, Leeds University Institute, St. Martin's School of Art, Chelsea School of Art, and Brighton School of Art. Frederick Etchells was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He studied at the Royal College of Art and exhibited at the Friday Club and the 2nd Post-Impressionist Exhibition. Roger Fry was born in London. He studied science at Cambridge and painting with Francis Bate. Edward Stott was born in Rochdale and attended Manchester School of Art.Who did Edward Reginald Frampton influence?
Edward Reginald Frampton belonged to the Arts and Crafts movement. Arts and Crafts theorists paid comparatively little attention to Hellenic art. Frampton's busts, such as Mysteriarch and Lamia, displayed the trappings of Pre-Raphaelite medievalism, which was supported by many craftsmen and writers within the Arts and Crafts Movement. The subject of Lamia shows a fascination for Keatsian Romanticism, a trait shared with Burne-Jones, Rossetti, and William Morris. Like Reynolds-Stephens, Frampton also produced several statuettes of St George, England's patron saint, and statues based on Tudor models. Frampton challenged the Academic supremacy of the human figure. He believed he could be just as much an artist in the way he used a leaf as in the way he used the human form. Frampton's bust Lamia, exhibited at the Academy in 1900, was made of bronze, ivory, and opals.Who influenced Edward Reginald Frampton?
Edward Reginald Frampton was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, particularly its Pre-Raphaelite medievalism. His busts, such as *Mysteriarch* and *Lamia*, reflect this, displaying the characteristics of the movement favoured by many craftsmen and writers. Frampton shared a fascination for Keatsian Romanticism with artists such as Burne-Jones, Rossetti, and William Morris. He also produced statuettes of St George, England’s patron saint, and statues based on Tudor models, similar to Reynolds-Stephens. Frampton's training in the crafts allowed him to challenge the Academic emphasis on the human figure. He regarded the creation of a well-made object as equally artistic to depicting the human form. This meant that the objects he produced held as much importance as the figures themselves.Who was Edward Reginald Frampton?
Edward Reginald Frampton (active circa 1882-1922) was a British artist associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. Although he worked in several media, he is best known for sculpture. Frampton trained at Lambeth School of Art. Unlike artists trained at the Royal Academy, those from Lambeth were less likely to be versed in classical languages, literature, or Greek models. Instead, their inspiration came from an Arts and Crafts interpretation of the past. Frampton produced busts, such as Mysteriarch and Lamia, that reflect the Pre-Raphaelite medievalism common among Arts and Crafts artists. The subject of Lamia demonstrates a fascination with Keatsian Romanticism, a trait he shared with Burne-Jones, Rossetti, and William Morris. He also created statuettes of St George, England’s patron saint, and statues based on Tudor figures. Frampton regarded himself as an "art-worker" rather than a sculptor. He challenged the traditional hierarchy of fine and decorative arts. He believed that the way an artist used a leaf could be as artistic as the way they represented the human form.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Edward Reginald Frampton.
- [1] museum Victoria and Albert Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum Cartwright Hall Art Gallery Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] museum Birmingham Museums Trust Used for: museum holdings.
- [4] museum Tate Used for: museum holdings.
- [5] museum Museum of Croydon Used for: museum holdings.
- [6] book Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author, Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author - The Art Book_ New Edition, Mini Format Used for: biography.
- [7] book Post-impressionism : cross-currents in European painting Used for: biography.
- [8] book Post-impressionism : cross-currents in European painting Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-06-18. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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