William Henry Margetson

WILLIAM HENRY MARGETSON (London,1861 - 1940).
"Portrait."
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the upper right corner.
Measurements: 63,5 x 48,5 cm; 75 x 60 cm (frame).
William Henry Margetson was a British painter and illustrator, primarily recognized for his aesthetic portraits of women.
Margetson received his initial training at Dulwich College and continued his studies at the Royal College of Art and the Royal Academy Schools. In 1885 he held his first exhibition at the Royal Academy, and later exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Grosvenor Gallery. That same year he was awarded the Armitage Medal for his studies at the Royal Academy, a work that is now in the British Museum.
His output encompassed both oil and watercolor techniques. Margetson achieved recognition primarily for his portraits of beautiful women, often featuring modern hairstyles and elegant hats. At the same time, he developed religious and allegorical works. Initially, his style fell within Victorian academicism; however, over time he adopted a looser brushstroke, influenced by the Post-Impressionists and Pre-Raphaelites, with special reference to Lawrence Alma-Tadema.
In addition to his pictorial work, Margetson developed an important career as a book illustrator. He was married to the artist Helen Hatton, whom he met during a joint illustration project. He lived and worked initially in London, and later in Blewbury and Wallingford.