Herbert Railton
Encyclopedia
Herbert Railton was an English artist and leading black and white illustrator of books and magazines.
, near Blackburn, Lancashire
, and educated at Mechlin in Belgium and Ampleforth College
in North Yorkshire
(England). He trained as an architect at the firm of W.S. Varley in Blackburn. He joined the local literary club where he met artist Charles Haworth, who became his mentor, and gave him further instruction in working in black and white.
After his drawings of a railway accident at Blackburn station (1881) were published in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News
, Railton went on to become one of the leading illustrators of his day. He moved to London and married Frances, another illustrator - they had one child, Lone, who also became an illustrator.
Railton provided many black and white illustrations for magazines and books - including editions of books by famous authors such Thomas Hood
(The Haunted House), Oliver Goldsmith
, Henry Fielding
, Samuel Johnson
etc. and travel guides.
Railton died of pneumonia in 1910, aged 53.
Life and work
Railton was born in PleasingtonPleasington
Pleasington is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, England. It had a population of 467 in the 2001 census.It is a rural village set on a hillside above the River Darwen...
, near Blackburn, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and educated at Mechlin in Belgium and Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
(England). He trained as an architect at the firm of W.S. Varley in Blackburn. He joined the local literary club where he met artist Charles Haworth, who became his mentor, and gave him further instruction in working in black and white.
After his drawings of a railway accident at Blackburn station (1881) were published in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News
Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News
The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News was an English weekly magazine founded in 1874 and published in London. In 1945 it changed its name to the Sport and Country, and in 1957 to the Farm and Country, before closing in 1970....
, Railton went on to become one of the leading illustrators of his day. He moved to London and married Frances, another illustrator - they had one child, Lone, who also became an illustrator.
Railton provided many black and white illustrations for magazines and books - including editions of books by famous authors such Thomas Hood
Thomas Hood
Thomas Hood was a British humorist and poet. His son, Tom Hood, became a well known playwright and editor.-Early life:...
(The Haunted House), Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith was an Irish writer, poet and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield , his pastoral poem The Deserted Village , and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man and She Stoops to Conquer...
, Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones....
, Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
etc. and travel guides.
Railton died of pneumonia in 1910, aged 53.
Selected books illustrated by Railton
- Thomas Lovell Beddoes. The Poetical Works of Thomas Lovell Beddoes (J.M. Dent & Co., 1890).
- William Benham. Winchester Cathedral (Isbister & Co. Ltd., 1897).
- C.M. Church. Wells Cathedral (Ibister & Co. ltd., 1897).
- John Lionel Darby. Chester Cathedral (Isbister & Co. Ltd., 1898).
- Ernest Gilliat-Smith. The Story of Bruges (J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., 1909).
- Cecil Headlam. The story of Chartres (J.M. Dent & Co., 1902).
- Cecil Headlam. The Story of Oxford (J.M. Dent & Co., 1907).
- Thomas HoodThomas HoodThomas Hood was a British humorist and poet. His son, Tom Hood, became a well known playwright and editor.-Early life:...
. The Haunted House (Lawrence & Bullen, 1896). - William H. Hutton. Hampton Court (John C. Nimmo, 1897).
- Sidney Lee. Stratford on Avon (Seeley & Co. Ltd., 1904).
- W.J. Loftie. The Inns of Court and Chancery (Seeley & Co., 1908)
- B.E. Martin In the footprints of Charles Lamb (Charles Scribner's sons, 1890).
- W.C.E. Newbolt. The cathedrals of England (Thomas Whittaker, 1899).
- W.C.E. Newbolt. St. Paul's Cathedral (Isbister & Co. Ltd., 1897).
- W.H.O. Smeaton. Edinburgh and its story (J.M. Dent & Co., 1904).
- Charles William Stubbs. Cambridge and its story (J.M. Dent & Co., 1903).
- W.O. Tristram. Coaching days and coaching ways (MacMillan & Co., 1893).
- M.G. Williamson. Edinburgh; a historical and topographical account of the city (Methuen & Co., 1906).
External links and references
- Herbert Railton (Biography at Cottontown.org).