William George Paulson Townsend | |
|---|---|
 Townsend in 1905 | |
| Born | 1868 (1868) Derby, England |
| Died | 12 June 1941(1941-06-12) (aged 72–73) Sunningdale, England |
| Resting place | Twickenham Cemetery, London, England |
| Occupation | artist, writer, designer, educato, editor |
| Literary movement | Arts and Crafts |
| Spouse | Jessie Beatrice Atkins Jones |
| Children | Philip,Geoffrey |
| Relatives | Ernest Townsend (brother) |
William George Paulson Townsend (1868–1941) was an English artist, designer, writer and editor.
Born inDerby in 1868, Townsend's father was a third generationcoachbuilder and designer. His younger brother,Ernest Townsend rose to prominence as an artist.[1]
William pursued a career as an art teacher, becoming teacher of drawing, government examiner of art and master of design at theRoyal School of Needlework.[2] Some of his wallpaper designs and some watercolour copies ofBotticelli works survive in the collection at theVictoria and Albert Museum.[3][4] He wrote and published widely on the decorative arts and particularly encouraged the study of design through examination of museum exhibits.[5]
Apart from books and journal articles, Townsend produced andeditedThe Art Workers' Quarterly, aserial published quarterly by Chapman and Hall. The title was established in 1902 "to supply designs in a readily applicable form to those who do not invent, plan, or adapt ornament, and who find difficulty in obtaining good and suitable suggestions for their work".[6]
Articles covered the work and activities of the art and craft schools, organisations, guilds and societies of the time, exhibition reviews and analytical pieces as well as illustrated articles on art and craft techniques.
Not only did Townsend contribute to the publication, he was successful in garnering contributions from several notable writers on theArts and Crafts movement includingWalter Crane,Alexander Fisher, A. Romney Green,James Guthrie, J. Illingworth Kay,May Morris, Bernard Rackham, Silvester Sparrow,Alfred Stevens andLawrence Weaver. Articles included reviews of the works ofCharles Robert Ashbee,Sidney Barnsley,Walter Crane,Bernard Cuzner,Alexander Fisher,Arthur Gaskin,Ernest Gimson,Ambrose Heal Jr.,Ernestine Mills,May Morris,Charles Spooner,Heywood Sumner,Mary Seton Fraser Tytler (MrsG. F. Watts),C.F.A. Voysey andPaul Woodroffe.[7]
The associated publication company that Townsend established with Arthur F. Wallis was wound up in 1905.[8] The title appeared quarterly until 1906 and with two further editions in August and December 1908.[7]
His father, James Townsend was a coach builder in Derby, his brotherErnest Townsend was an artist, within the family he was known as "Darby". He married Jessie Beatrice Jones in 1898 and they lived most of their lives inTwickenham. They had two sons, Philip (1899 – 1959) andGeoffrey (1911 – 2002).[9][10][11] Geoffrey became notable as an architect and property developer, co-foundingSpan Developments with architectEric Lyons.
William George Paulson Townsend died in 1941 inSunningdale, aged 73, survived by his wife and sons.[12][13]
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