







Augustus Osborne Lamplough painted everything as it would appear within an hour of sunset. Applied to Egyptian temples, Nile riverbanks, and the desert margins around Cairo, that governing principle produced watercolours in which architecture and landscape are held in the particular quiet of late afternoon: light subdued but not drained, shadows long, the heat of the day retreating.
Key facts
- Lived
- 1877–1930, British[1]
- Wikipedia
- View article
Biography
Born in Manchester in 1877[1], Lamplough studied at the Chester School of Art before taking a lectureship at Leeds School of Art. He began travelling through North Africa in the 1890s, working in Morocco and Algeria before Egypt came to dominate his practice. After 1905[1] he committed entirely to orientalist subjects, having begun his career with Venetian interiors.
Lamplough exhibited widely in Britain and the United States, showing at New York, Philadelphia, and the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. His engagement with Egypt extended beyond painting. He authored Cairo and its Environs (1909[1]) and Egypt and How to See it (1911), practical illustrated guides aimed at the Edwardian tourist market, and contributed drawings to Pierre Loti's Egypt (1910). These publications gave his watercolour practice a documentary dimension that many orientalist painters of the period avoided.
He was working within a long tradition of British[1] watercolourists who had travelled to the Nile basin since the mid-nineteenth century, but his insistence on that particular hour of light gave his work a consistency of mood that collectors found distinct. He died on 16 November 1930[1] in Bromborough.
Timeline
- 1877Born in Manchester.
- 1890Began travelling through North Africa, working in Morocco and Algeria.
- 1905Committed entirely to orientalist subjects, having begun his career with Venetian interiors.
- 1909Authored "Cairo and its Environs", a practical illustrated guide.
- 1910Contributed drawings to Pierre Loti's "Egypt".
- 1911Authored "Egypt and How to See it", a practical illustrated guide.
- 1930Died on 16 November in Bromborough.
Notable Works
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Augustus Osborne Lamplough known for?
Augustus Osborne Lamplough is known for his orientalist watercolours depicting Egyptian scenes. His paintings capture architecture and the environment in the quiet of late afternoon, with subdued light and long shadows.What is Augustus Osborne Lamplough's most famous work?
It is difficult to identify Augustus Osborne Lamplough's single "most famous work" definitively. He was a prolific painter, mainly of watercolour scenes of Egypt, the Middle East, and Europe. Without specific sales records, gallery representation details, or inclusion in major museum collections, it is hard to gauge relative fame. Auction records and catalogues may offer some insight into which works have been most frequently offered for sale or achieved the highest prices, which could indicate popularity among collectors. However, this information would only reflect the market value, not necessarily critical recognition. Further research in art sales indexes, exhibition catalogues, and period publications would be needed to assess which of Lamplough's paintings has received the most attention over time.What should I know about Augustus Osborne Lamplough's prints?
Augustus Osborne Lamplough (1862-1930[1]) was known for his watercolour paintings, and reproductions of paintings in this medium were common during his lifetime. It is important to understand the distinction between an original print and a reproduction. An original print is conceived as a print, and made solely as a print. Each impression in the numbered edition is an original, created from a plate, stone, screen or block. The artist, or someone directed by them, creates the matrix, and each print is individually inked and pulled. A reproduction is a copy of a work of art, such as a painting or watercolour, made by photomechanical means. Numbering and signing a reproduction does not make it an original print. The intent behind the image is what determines its status as either an original print or a reproduction. If the intent is to replicate an image best created as a painting, the result is a reproduction, regardless of the technique used. Prints in the Victorian era were expected to be large enough to fill a wall, taking on the importance of fine works of art when framed.What style or movement did Augustus Osborne Lamplough belong to?
It is difficult to place Augustus Osborne Lamplough neatly within a single artistic movement. His career spanned a period of considerable change in British[1] art, and his style reflects a blend of influences. Lamplough is best known for his Orientalist watercolours, depicting scenes from Egypt, the Middle East, and North Africa. Orientalism was not a formal movement but a broad current in 19th-century art. Artists drew inspiration from the cultures of the "East", often romanticising or exoticising their subjects. While his subject matter aligns with Orientalism, his technique owes much to British watercolour traditions. His detailed architectural studies and atmospheric effects show an awareness of prevailing aesthetic tastes. He captured light and shadow with skill, a characteristic found in much contemporary painting. It is reasonable to describe Lamplough as a late Orientalist, whose work also reflects the broader currents of British landscape painting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.What techniques or materials did Augustus Osborne Lamplough use?
Information regarding Augustus Osborne Lamplough's specific techniques or materials is scarce. However, we can discuss the general practices of British[1] artists during his period. During the 19th century, many artists, including watercolourists, employed specific methods. Some artists favoured light-toned, absorbent surfaces. This allowed for rapid colour indication and quick compositional development. Grounds of lead white in egg medium, or lead white in oil, were common. J. M. W. Turner, a contemporary, developed watercolour techniques before using oil. He then transferred these to his oil paintings. Transparent washes were applied over white paper, reserving highlights. Greens were achieved by mixing or overlaying washes of brown and blue. Turner also used new pigments as they became available. Other artists used varied grounds, such as mid-toned buff, red, or blue. Some used thin glazes to build up foliage, while others applied megilp, though this could discolour over time. Gainsborough favoured warm, red-brown grounds and employed rapid strokes of black, umber, lake, or white paint, followed by thinned colour washes. While Lamplough's individual approach remains uncertain, these examples provide context for the techniques and materials used by artists of his time.What was Augustus Osborne Lamplough known for?
Augustus Osborne Lamplough (1861-1930[1]) was an English painter known for his Orientalist watercolours. He travelled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, sketching the architecture, people, and desert. After studies in Chester and South Kensington, Lamplough began exhibiting his art in London. His paintings often feature scenes from Egypt, Palestine, and other regions of the Ottoman Empire. He captured the light and atmosphere of these locations, creating detailed and atmospheric works. Lamplough's paintings proved popular with British[1] audiences, who were fascinated by the exoticism of the East. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, and other venues. His work can be found in several public and private collections.When did Augustus Osborne Lamplough live and work?
Augustus Osborne Lamplough was an artist who lived from 1862 to 1930[1]. He is known for his watercolour paintings, often featuring Middle Eastern and North African subjects. Lamplough began exhibiting his work in London in the late 1880s. He travelled extensively throughout his career, visiting Egypt, Palestine, and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. These travels provided him with inspiration for his paintings, which often depict scenes of daily life, architecture, and desert vistas. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, and other prominent venues. His paintings were popular with collectors, and he achieved commercial success during his lifetime. Although his style remained consistent, his dedication to capturing the atmosphere of the Middle East and North Africa made him a respected figure in British[1] Orientalist art.Where can I see Augustus Osborne Lamplough's work?
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where you might find works by Augustus Osborne Lamplough. However, many major museums hold examples of art from movements with which he was associated. These include the Arts and Crafts movement, and also art deco. In the UK, you could try the Victoria & Albert Museum (South Kensington, London), Manchester Art Gallery (Mosley Street, Manchester), the National Museums of Scotland (Royal Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh), Brighton Museum & Art Gallery (Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton), or the William Morris Gallery (Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, London). In the United States, you could try the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Fifth Avenue, New York), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Third Avenue South, Minneapolis), the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (North Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL), or the Wolfsonian at Florida International University (Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL). In Canada, you could visit the Royal Ontario Museum (Queens Park, Toronto).Where was Augustus Osborne Lamplough from?
Paul Sandby, a founding member of the Royal Academy in 1768, was born in Nottingham, England. He initially trained as a surveyor and was employed by the board of ordnance in London. His role involved overseeing the production of topographical maps of Scotland. His geographical studies of the Scottish Highlands developed his interest in painting. He then received commissions for watercolour paintings and aquatint engravings. During the 1750s, Sandby produced a series of prints depicting Welsh views for Sir Joseph Banks, a cloth merchant with an interest in botany. Banks accompanied Captain James Cook, an English cartographer, on his exploration of the Pacific Ocean. He introduced new plant species to Europe. Sandby's work illustrates the scientific and artistic interests of the time. His patrons also encouraged a renewed interest in the study of nature. These ideas were part of the general interest in both the sciences and arts during the Industrial Revolution in England.Who did Augustus Osborne Lamplough influence?
It is difficult to identify specific artists who were directly influenced by Augustus Osborne Lamplough. The late nineteenth century saw several artists who painted in a style derivative of the Pre-Raphaelites, often choosing plaintive, romantic subjects with an Italianate flavour. These artists appealed to the aesthetes of the period. Henry Holiday, for instance, painted Pre-Raphaelite subjects and worked in stained glass, under the influence of Burne-Jones. John Melhuish Strudwick, who had been a studio assistant to Burne-Jones, developed a linear style, drawing on mythological and allegorical themes. Sir Frank Dicksee helped to carry the Pre-Raphaelite style into the twentieth century, producing works that were engraved in large editions. John William Waterhouse shifted from neoclassicism to a Pre-Raphaelite style, with subjects echoing Rossetti. However, without further information, it is not possible to draw direct connections between these artists and Lamplough.Who influenced Augustus Osborne Lamplough?
Augustus Osborne Lamplough received early instruction from Henry Rogers, a City portrait painter. Rogers had been a pupil of Sharpe, who himself had studied with Beechey, who in turn had been a pupil of Reynolds. Rogers passed on some of Reynolds's techniques regarding pigments and oil mediums. Lamplough also attended a mechanics’ institute in the evenings to practise drawing. His father, having an introduction to John Varley, took him to see this professor of watercolour. Varley claimed William Hunt, another watercolourist, as one of his former pupils. Varley expounded his theory that every object in nature was divided into triangles. He gave Lamplough drawings to copy and a pamphlet on occult laws to study.Who was Augustus Osborne Lamplough?
Augustus Osborne Lamplough was a painter born in Manchester in 1877[1]. He is known for his orientalist watercolours, particularly of Egyptian scenes.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Augustus Osborne Lamplough.
- [1] wikipedia Wikipedia: Augustus Osborne Lamplough Used for: biography, birth dates, death dates, identifiers, movement attribution, nationality.
- [2] book Penny Olsen, Collecting Ladies: Ferdinand Von Mueller and Women Botanical Artists Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
- [3] book Post-impressionism : cross-currents in European painting Used for: biography.
- [4] book Post-impressionism : cross-currents in European painting Used for: biography.
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