"Still Life with Fruit"

Here for your consideration is a late 19th century still life with fruit by the well known British artist, Henry George Todd. Signed lower left and dated 1896. Condition is very good. The painting is housed in a period frame in very good condition. Overall framed measurements are 15 by 13 inches.


Henry George Todd (1847-1898)
Born at 27 St John's Street, Bury St. Edmund's in 1847, son of George Todd [q.v.], a decorative artist, and his wife Sophia née Spencer. He attended a school at Bury St. Edmund's and as his father was a grainer young George was apprenticed to him and trained in decorating and sign-writing. At the age of 18, he enrolled in an art school and his progress determined that he proceed to London and attended the Royal Kensington School of Art, now the Royal College of Art.

At about the age of 27 he came to Ipswich and entered the employ of Alfred Stearn & Son, working in design, decoration and gilding, being commissioned by local traders for their shop-fronts which were considered as works of art.

In 1871 an 'artist' boarding with Mary Schulen, pottery manufacturer at 1 Rope Walk he married the following year, 21 year old Ellen Lucy Quinton (1851-1923) of Ipswich. In 1881 an 'artist fruit & landscape' being particularly famous for his still-life and his ability to paint grapes, living at 14 Waterloo Road, Ipswich, together with Ellen and their children, Ada Ellen born 1874, George William 1875, Eva Spencer 1876 and Arthur John 1880, their 16 month old daughter Kate.

Sophia, his mother, died at 16 Woodhouse Street in November 1882. A frequent exhibitor at Ipswich Fine Art Club also exhibiting at the Dudley Gallery, the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of British Artists 1885-1898 from 46 Croft Street, Ipswich where he died and was buried in Ipswich cemetery on 5 July 1898, aged 51.
Information provided by Tony Copsey