Alfred J Bennett

Alfred J Bennett, (1861 - ca.1923) was an English artist who worked in oils, watercolour and etching.

Life and Work

London, the place of his birth in 1861, was a major source of inspiration for Bennett. His paintings, drawings and etchings, more often than not, depicted well known landmarks of the capital city. In his twenties Bennett married Catherine Avery, and spent a short amount of time living with her family in East Hyde, Bedfordshire. [1901 England Census] During this period Bennett worked as a Jeweller, whilst also regularly submitting paintings to the Royal Academy of which four were exhibited between 1861-1880. [1901 England Census] [Graves, A. "A Dictionary of Artists 1760-1893" (Kingsmead Reprints, 1901)]

After this success, Bennett quit the jewellery trade and concentrated on his art, first moving to Thornton Heath, Surrey and then relocating his studio to Knebworth. [Johnson, J. "The Dictionary of British Artists 1880-1940" (Antique Collectors Club, 1980)] [Royal Academy Exhibitors 1905-1970, Vol I (EP Publishing LTD, 1979)]

Exhibitions

Bennett exhibited extensively, regularly contributing work to the Watercolour Society (17 pictures) and British Institute (2 pictures) exhibitions. [Graves, A. "A Dictionary of Artists 1760-1893" (Kingsmead Reprints, 1901)] A further painting titled "The Hill Farm" was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1916, and he achieved more success with solo and joint shows at the prestigious Walker Gallery in Bond Street, London in 1918 and 1923. [Royal Academy Exhibitors 1905-1970, Vol I (EP Publishing LTD, 1979)] In addition, he also exhibited works at the Fine Art Society, New English Art Club, Grosvenor Gallery, International Society, and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. [Johnson, J. "The Dictionary of British Artists 1880-1940" (Antique Collectors Club, 1980)]

Many of Bennett's works are found in public art collections, including two watercolours in the collection of Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.

References