Frederick Marriott (1860 - 1941)
Frederick Marriott RE, ARCA. painter and etcher of landscapes, architectural subjects and portraits. Born on 20th October 1860 in Stoke-upon-Trent.
Marriott received his early training in the school of Art, Coalbrookdale, and at the age of 14 went to work as a pottery painter in a factory. In 1879 he gained a National Scholarship at the Royal College of Art where he studied for three years. He then worked as a designer and illustrator to Marcus Wood and Company. Later he became Chief Designer with Eyre and Spottiswood, and remained for four and a half years.
He travelled frequently abroad, which is reflected in the subject-matter of his output of paintings and etchings.
He practised repoussé work, wood carving, enamelling and modelling, and produced some fine panels in modelled gesso with mother-of-pearl inlay of pre-raphaelite period.
Marriott exhibited at the Royal Academy and with the Royal Society of Engravers, as well as being listed as exhibiting across the UK (in the provinces) and at the Paris Salon.
He was a member of the Society of Graver-Printmakers in Colour. A group formed in 1909. One of the fundamental principles of the organisation was that all works should not only be the invention of the artist but that all proofs should be guaranteed printed in colour by the artist, and not coloured or completed by hand after printing. Thus the Society rationale was simply the exhibiting of colour prints and not coloured prints.
His work is in public collections and includes a commission of a small painting in the Royal Collection, called Normandy House circa 1923. It is a a night scene with a gabled farmhouse, towers to the right and two figures at the door. This was commissioned for The Library in Queens Mary’s Dolls’ House.
He was Design Master at Blackheath Art School, Headmaster of the Onslow College Art School, Chelsea, and Headmaster, Goldsmith's Institute, 1895-1925. He was member of the Arts and Crafts Society and also the Art Workers' Guild, and was elected A.R.E. 1909, R.E. 1924.
Marriot made many continental tours working on town scenes with the emphasis on architecture, and also visited and painted in Australia about 1910.
He was friends with Brangwyn, Clausen, Drury and East. He was also a close friend of Arnold Bennett, and is sited as having a large influence on Bennett and his creative direction. Frederick Marriot lived in London and died on 2nd October 1941.
The gallery hosted a show of Frederick Marriotts etchings for The Arnold Bennett society annual dinner attendees on 24th March 2018. This show also proved an inspiration for the research into a book published in Oct 2019 and now available at Barewall Art Gallery Arnold Bennett and Frederick Marriott Parallel Lives by John Shapcott.
