Byam Shaw: A One-Man Show, Marriage, and Works

"Goblin Market," 1899, by Byam Shaw

"In May 1899, Byam Shaw held his first one man show, that of thirty-nine cabinet pictures, entitled 'Thoughts suggested by some passages from British poets.' Lovable little pictures for the most part they were, revealing a mind and vision capable of understanding and translating beauty. Eleven of the subjects were suggested by Christina Rossetti, poet and sister of Pre-Raphaelite Dante Gabriel Rossetti; for others he drew on Shakespeare, Mrs. Browning, Tennyson, Sir Walter Scott and Rudyard Kipling. And happily was able to write 'I am thankful to say that nearly all are sold.'

In June, he married Miss Pyke-Nott, a marriage that began and continued through life to their mutual happiness. He, by incessant diligence, fulfilled his aim of providing her with the comforts she had been accustomed to, as well as the means for bringing up and educating their children, to the best advantage. She, content in his love and that of their children, and busy in the management of the home, still found time to give him practical help in his pictures, as the many portraits of her in his subjects bear witness, as well as to carry on her own art of which he was so proud.

He also saw the publication of three books, which had been illustrated by him: 'Tales from Boccaccio,' 'The Predicted Plagues,' and the first volume of the 'Chiswick Shakespeare.' When completed some time later, the volumes of Shakespeare's work were twelve all told, and included four hundred and sixty-three of his illustrations."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "The Art & Life of Byam Shaw" by Rex Vicat Cole.)