Oliphant was born in Gateshead in County Durham in 1818, son of Thomas Oliphant, a glass-cutter originally from Edinburgh, and his wife Margery. He was trained as an artist at the Edinburgh Academy of Art. In early life the revival of Gothic style and ornament led him to make a study of ecclesiastical art, visiting cathedrals in northern Europe. He worked for Ballantine and Allan in Edinburgh, and afterwards for William Wailes of Newcastle upon Tyne, where he was chief designer.[1][2]
He moved to London, and worked with Pugin & Pugin, especially on the painted windows in the new Houses of Parliament. He also sent in a cartoon to the competition for the decoration of Westminster Hall, which was not successful. During this period Oliphant exhibited several pictures in the Royal Academy of Art, particularly a large Shakespearean study of the interview between Richard II and John of Gaunt, and a picture of the Prodigal Son "Nearing Home".[2]
His latter years were occupied with an energetic attempt to improve the art of painted glass by superintending the processes of execution as well as the design, for which he set up a small workshop. From this workshop he produced the windows in the ante-chapel of King's College, Cambridge, those in the chancel of St Mary the Virgin's Church, Aylesbury, and several in Ely Cathedral. The choristers' window at Ely was the joint work of Oliphant and William Dyce, the former being responsible for the original design. He published in 1856 a small treatise entitled A Plea for Painted Glass.[1][2]
His work was interrupted by ill-health: he developed tuberculosis in 1857, which obliged him to seek a warmer climate. With his family he moved to Rome in January 1859. He died there on 20 October 1859, and was buried in the English cemetery in Rome.[1][2]
Familyedit
In 1852 he married his cousin Margaret Oliphant Wilson, who was beginning to be known as a writer. They had two sons. Cyril Francis Oliphant (1856–1890), who graduated B.A. at Balliol College, Oxford, published in 1890 a biography and criticism of the work of Alfred de Musset. Francis Romano Oliphant (1859–1894), born in Rome after his father's death, graduated B.A. at Oxford and issued in 1891 "Notes of a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Holy Land", which originally appeared as letters addressed to The Spectator. He was a frequent contributor to that and other periodicals, and aided his mother in the preparation of her Victorian Age of Literature (1892).[2]
Referencesedit
^ abcd"Oliphant, Francis Wilson [Frank]". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 23 September 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20705. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
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"Windows by F W Oliphant - Maker" Stained Glass of Buckinghamshire Churches.
May 09, 2024
francis, wilson, oliphant, september, 1818, october, 1859, british, painter, designer, stained, glass, stained, glass, depicting, peter, paul, oliphant, forncett, peter, norfolk, contents, life, family, references, external, linkslife, editoliphant, born, gate. Francis Wilson Oliphant 28 September 1818 20 October 1859 1 was a British painter and designer of stained glass Stained glass depicting St Peter and St Paul by Oliphant at Forncett St Peter Norfolk Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 References 4 External linksLife editOliphant was born in Gateshead in County Durham in 1818 son of Thomas Oliphant a glass cutter originally from Edinburgh and his wife Margery He was trained as an artist at the Edinburgh Academy of Art In early life the revival of Gothic style and ornament led him to make a study of ecclesiastical art visiting cathedrals in northern Europe He worked for Ballantine and Allan in Edinburgh and afterwards for William Wailes of Newcastle upon Tyne where he was chief designer 1 2 He moved to London and worked with Pugin amp Pugin especially on the painted windows in the new Houses of Parliament He also sent in a cartoon to the competition for the decoration of Westminster Hall which was not successful During this period Oliphant exhibited several pictures in the Royal Academy of Art particularly a large Shakespearean study of the interview between Richard II and John of Gaunt and a picture of the Prodigal Son Nearing Home 2 His latter years were occupied with an energetic attempt to improve the art of painted glass by superintending the processes of execution as well as the design for which he set up a small workshop From this workshop he produced the windows in the ante chapel of King s College Cambridge those in the chancel of St Mary the Virgin s Church Aylesbury and several in Ely Cathedral The choristers window at Ely was the joint work of Oliphant and William Dyce the former being responsible for the original design He published in 1856 a small treatise entitled A Plea for Painted Glass 1 2 His work was interrupted by ill health he developed tuberculosis in 1857 which obliged him to seek a warmer climate With his family he moved to Rome in January 1859 He died there on 20 October 1859 and was buried in the English cemetery in Rome 1 2 Family editIn 1852 he married his cousin Margaret Oliphant Wilson who was beginning to be known as a writer They had two sons Cyril Francis Oliphant 1856 1890 who graduated B A at Balliol College Oxford published in 1890 a biography and criticism of the work of Alfred de Musset Francis Romano Oliphant 1859 1894 born in Rome after his father s death graduated B A at Oxford and issued in 1891 Notes of a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Holy Land which originally appeared as letters addressed to The Spectator He was a frequent contributor to that and other periodicals and aided his mother in the preparation of her Victorian Age of Literature 1892 2 References edit a b c d Oliphant Francis Wilson Frank Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press 23 September 2004 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 20705 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b c d e Lee Sidney ed 1895 Oliphant Francis Wilson Dictionary of National Biography Vol 42 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 129 130 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lee Sidney ed 1895 Oliphant Francis Wilson Dictionary of National Biography Vol 42 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 129 130 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francis Oliphant F W Oliphant 1818 1859 Stained Glass in Wales University of Wales Windows by F W Oliphant Maker Stained Glass of Buckinghamshire Churches Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Wilson Oliphant amp oldid 1181116453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
