ABSTRACT
Robert J. Wickenden (1861-1931) and the
Late Nineteenth-Century Print Revival
Susan J. Gustavison
1989
Despite an extensive exhibition history,
favourable critical reception, the respect of his peers in the art establishment and
fruitful relationships with collectors such as Charles Lang Freer, James E. Scripps and
Sir William Van Horne, Robert J. Wickenden (1861-1931) has remained a minor artist
unclaimed by any of the national histories (British, Canadian or American) to which he has
been linked in biographical entries.
Robert Wickenden was a paradigm of a minor late
nineteenth-century artist. His activity as a printmaker and painter of portraits and
landscape was supplemented, and at times supported by his role as a collector, dealer and
historian in the late nineteenth-century print revival. Although he remained essentially
itinerant throughout his career, the nature and the success of Wickenden's career
strategies were determined by his domicile in each of three countries - France, Canada,
and lastly, the United States.
These three periods are considered
chronologically to demonstrate the interweaving of his material production, primarily his
printmaking, with the distribution of art from the late nineteenth century. Although his
role as a collector, historian and connoisseur has left some traces in history, his role
as a dealer and its impact on collections, both major and minor has remained anonymous.
His role as a critic is treated in relation to his own artistic practice.
Appendices include a catalogue raisonné of his
print production, a brief chronology, and an exhibition list of his works.
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