Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1916-1923 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 file
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Nathaniel Sparks was born on 18 Jun 1880 in Bristol, the second son of Nathaniel Sparks Snr, a violin restorer. He was educated privately until the age of 10 when won a scholarship to The Bristol College of Art and Science, where he came under the tutelage of R Bush, ARE. Another scholarship brought him, aged 20, to the Royal College of Art (RCA), London, where Frank Short, President of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (RE), was Head of the Engraving School.
Whilst studying he was commissioned by J McN Whistler to pull (print) his `Venice Set' and in 1905 he received a Diploma in Decorative Painting from the Royal Academy and was made an Associate of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (ARE).
1906 saw the first of a long line of annual exhibits at both the Royal Academy (RA) and the RE. In 1909, he was elected a Fellow of the RE and won a Gold Medal for Outstanding Artwork.
During the World War 1, he was employed making gauges for the munitions factories, engraving the fine calibration required for accurate machining. Following the end of the War, the rise of photography led to a decline in the demand for the engravers' skills. Sparks continued to produce prints and watercolours, but faded into old age and obscurity. His printing press was blown up by a German bomb in 1940.
He died in Somerton, Somerset in 29 August 1957.
Malcolm Osborne was born at Frome, Somerset, 1 August 1880, the fourth son of Alfred Osborne, Schoolmaster. He was educated at the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, Bristol, and the Royal Coll. of Art, South Kensington, 1901-1906, where he studied etching and engraving under Sir Frank Short, RA, PRE. Osborne served in Artists' Rifles and 60th Division in France, Salonika and Palestine during World War 1, and was later Professor of Engraving at the Royal College of Art, ARA 1918. He held the position of President Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, from 1938-1962, and was awarded CBE 1948; RA 1926; PPRE, ARCA. In 1927, he married Amy Margaret Stableford. He died on 22 September 1963. Publications: Etched Plates.
Alfred Bentley was born in 1879, the youngest son of Capt. W. E. Bentley, FRGS. He was educated at the Royal College of Art, South Kensington, London, where he studied etching and engraving under Sir Frank Short. He also became a lifelong friend of his fellow classmate, Malcolm Osborne (1880-1963), with whom he went on etching tours in France, frequently working together and sharing the same studio.
In April 1915, he joined the Artists' Rifles, April 1915, was gazetted to Norfolk Regiment and served in France (MC). Bentley was elected an Associate of the Royal Engravers in 1908 and became a full member in 1913. He was awarded and ARCA London.
Bentley was a recognised artist, exhibiting his etchings and drypoint engravings at both the Royal Academy, London, and the Royal Scottish Academy, as well as in all the principal galleries in England and abroad. Morlaix, Brittany was Bentley's last work of art. It was commissioned by the Print Collector's Club in 1923. This drypoint engraving was also selected for the publication, Fine Prints of the Year, 1923.
He died on 18 February 1923 of complications due to World War 1 related wounds.
Repository
Archival history
GB 1744 RE SPARKS 1916-1923 subfonds 1 file Sparks , Nathaniel , 1880-1957 , engraver
Nathaniel Sparks was born on 18 Jun 1880 in Bristol, the second son of Nathaniel Sparks Snr, a violin restorer. He was educated privately until the age of 10 when won a scholarship to The Bristol College of Art and Science, where he came under the tutelage of R Bush, ARE. Another scholarship brought him, aged 20, to the Royal College of Art (RCA), London, where Frank Short, President of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (RE), was Head of the Engraving School.
Whilst studying he was commissioned by J McN Whistler to pull (print) his `Venice Set' and in 1905 he received a Diploma in Decorative Painting from the Royal Academy and was made an Associate of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (ARE).
1906 saw the first of a long line of annual exhibits at both the Royal Academy (RA) and the RE. In 1909, he was elected a Fellow of the RE and won a Gold Medal for Outstanding Artwork.
During the World War 1, he was employed making gauges for the munitions factories, engraving the fine calibration required for accurate machining. Following the end of the War, the rise of photography led to a decline in the demand for the engravers' skills. Sparks continued to produce prints and watercolours, but faded into old age and obscurity. His printing press was blown up by a German bomb in 1940.
He died in Somerton, Somerset in 29 August 1957.
Malcolm Osborne was born at Frome, Somerset, 1 August 1880, the fourth son of Alfred Osborne, Schoolmaster. He was educated at the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, Bristol, and the Royal Coll. of Art, South Kensington, 1901-1906, where he studied etching and engraving under Sir Frank Short, RA, PRE. Osborne served in Artists' Rifles and 60th Division in France, Salonika and Palestine during World War 1, and was later Professor of Engraving at the Royal College of Art, ARA 1918. He held the position of President Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, from 1938-1962, and was awarded CBE 1948; RA 1926; PPRE, ARCA. In 1927, he married Amy Margaret Stableford. He died on 22 September 1963. Publications: Etched Plates.
Alfred Bentley was born in 1879, the youngest son of Capt. W. E. Bentley, FRGS. He was educated at the Royal College of Art, South Kensington, London, where he studied etching and engraving under Sir Frank Short. He also became a lifelong friend of his fellow classmate, Malcolm Osborne (1880-1963), with whom he went on etching tours in France, frequently working together and sharing the same studio.
In April 1915, he joined the Artists' Rifles, April 1915, was gazetted to Norfolk Regiment and served in France (MC). Bentley was elected an Associate of the Royal Engravers in 1908 and became a full member in 1913. He was awarded and ARCA London.
Bentley was a recognised artist, exhibiting his etchings and drypoint engravings at both the Royal Academy, London, and the Royal Scottish Academy, as well as in all the principal galleries in England and abroad. Morlaix, Brittany was Bentley's last work of art. It was commissioned by the Print Collector's Club in 1923. This drypoint engraving was also selected for the publication, Fine Prints of the Year, 1923.
He died on 18 February 1923 of complications due to World War 1 related wounds.
Donated to the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers.
Papers of Nathaniel Sparks including letters to Sparks from Alfred Bentley, artist and drypoint engraver, 1916-1917, with 2 photographs; and letters and photographs from Malcolm Osborne, 1916-1925.
By appointment, contact the Archivist of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, in the first instance, Bankside Gallery, 48 Hopton St, Blackfriars, London SE1 9JH
At the discretion of the Archivist.
English
Handlist.
Archives of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, held at Bankside Gallery.
Collection of Sparks' prints held by the Guildhall Library, London.
Nathaniel Sparks, memoirs of Thomas Hardy's cousin, the engraver, Celia Barclay, Cock Inn Publishing, Greenwich, 1994
Sources: Who's Who 1897-1996 CD-ROM (A & C Black); Nathanial Sparks Gallery online (www.natsparks.co.uk); and http://www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/bentley_alfred_morlaixbrittany.htm Compiled by Alison Field as part of the London Signpost Survey Project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997. September 2003 Publishing Bentley , Alfred , 1879-1923 , engraver Engraving Fine arts Handicrafts Illustration printing Osborne , Malcolm , 1880-1963 , engraver Printing Printing methods Sparks , Nathaniel , 1880-1957 , engraver Publishing industry
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated to the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Nathaniel Sparks including letters to Sparks from Alfred Bentley, artist and drypoint engraver, 1916-1917, with 2 photographs; and letters and photographs from Malcolm Osborne, 1916-1925.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
By appointment, contact the Archivist of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, in the first instance, Bankside Gallery, 48 Hopton St, Blackfriars, London SE1 9JH
Conditions governing reproduction
At the discretion of the Archivist.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Archives of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, held at Bankside Gallery.
Finding aids
Handlist.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Collection of Sparks' prints held by the Guildhall Library, London.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English