Frederick William Hulme (British 1816 – 1884)

Dubbed “The Yorkshire Turner,” Hulme was born at Swinton, Yorkshire, England. When he was still young, his father, who was a designer for an earthenware manufacture in Swinton, moved the family to Hanley, also home to potteries. Hulme, who had been taught by his mother, who was a painter on porcelain, worked with his father until 1844 when he moved to London. However, he had first exhibited a landscape painting at the Birmingham Academy (of Arts) in 1841. Once in London, Hulme worked as an illustrator for engravers, notable for the Art Journal. Hulmes’s paintings often were used by engravers for illustrations in a number of books and other publications, although Hulme himself was better known as an engraver during the 1840s and 1850s. His drawings or engravings of his paintings appeared in The Baronial Hall, Picturesque Edifices, and Ancient Churches of England, vol. 3 (1845)’ and The Poetical Works of Edgar Allan Poe, of America (1856). Landscape painting in oil would occupy most of Hulmes’s time from the 1850s onward and he maintained a studio in London. His subjects were mostly the idyllic landscapes of Surrey and Wales, which may include animals or rustic figures. One of his favorite haunts was the small Welsh village of Bettws y-Coed in the Conway valley, which had become an artists’ colony by the mid-1800s. Constance Wilde, wife of Oscar Wilde, was especially delighted to make Hulmes’ acquaintance during one of his painting excursions there. In 1852, a newspaper writer upon viewing one of Hulme’s landscapes, wrote “happy the art which can realise them for transfer to the walls of our dwellings in smoky cities, to tell of health and tranquil happiness which still, in humble seclusion, survive the glare and strife of the wide world!” Another newspaper writer in 1858, much taken with one of his Welsh scenes, painted along the River Llugwy in 1858, said “the little River Llugwy winds its tortuous way through rocky chasms, occasionally shaded by primeval trees, but sparkling still in response to every stray ray of sunshine, and here and there crossed by a bridge of rude construction.” In 1865, another newspaper reported that “It has been said of him with perfect justice that his trees are singularly lithe and graceful, and his rendering of rocks, stony riverbeds and glassy streams such as no man can hope to equal who does not go to nature and watch her closely. “ This painting, by F. W. Hulme is titled ‘Arundel Park.’ The park is located on the grounds of Arundel Castle, Sussex, UK. Hulmes’s style was favorably compared to that of noted 19th century English artists Henry Shayer (c.1825 – 1864) and Thomas Creswick (1811 – 1869), in addition to his apparent Turneresque influences. He taught drawing, and published some drawing books for use in schools, two of which were ‘A Graduated Series of Drawing Copies on Landscape (1850)’ and Plant Form for Ornamental Designers and Illuminators, drawn from Nature, Part I (1867). Hulmes exhibited at the British Institution (1845 – 1862); Royal Academy (1852 – 1884); British Artists’ Gallery (1846 – c, 1880); Hyde Park Gallery and the Egyptian Hall and Portland Gallery (1848 -- in 1861). Hulmes died at Kensington, November 14, 1884. High auction price for this artist: $24,000. Contact Bedford Fine Art Gallery for permission to use any portion of this content. In addition to offering the artwork below for sale, Bedford Fine Art Gallery is also actively seeking to purchase artwork by Frederick William Hulme. Contact Us

In addition to offering the artwork below for sale, Bedford Fine Art Gallery is also actively seeking to purchase artwork by Frederick William Hulme. Contact Us