Cecil Charles Windsor Aldin (1870-1935)
Born in Slough on 28 April 1870, Aldin was educated at Eastbourne College and at Solihull Grammar School. He studied art at the R.C.A. and under Frank William Calderon, the Founder and Principal of the School of Animal Painting 1894-1916.
Aldin is principally known as an illustrator. While living in London he became friends with the Beggarstaff Brothers, John Hassall, Phil May and Dudley Hardy, and their influence is clearly seen throughout his work. Aldin's first contribution to The Graphic appeared in 1891 and in 1894-5 he illustrated Kipling's Jungle Stories for the Pall Mall Budget. His work became extremely popular and he was employed by Bovril, Colman's Mustard, Cadbury's and Royal Doulton for their advertising campaigns. It was his love of animals however that set him apart from other leading illustrators of the day. Horses, dogs and the English countryside became the major topics of his illustrations. Amongst the books that he published were Dogs of Character (1927) and The Romance of the Road (1928). His obituary in The Times asserted that 'there never yet has been a painter of dogs fit to hold a candle to him ... Cecil Aldin can justly be described as one of the leading spirits in the renaissance of British Sporting Art'.
Cecil Charles Windsor Aldin (1870-1935)
Details
Cecil Charles Windsor Aldin (1870-1935)
An Unexpected Encounter
signed 'Cecil/Aldin' (lower left); pencil, pen and black ink and coloured chalks heightened with white on ivorine, unframed
13¼ x 10in. (33.6 x 25.4cm.)
An Unexpected Encounter
signed 'Cecil/Aldin' (lower left); pencil, pen and black ink and coloured chalks heightened with white on ivorine, unframed
13¼ x 10in. (33.6 x 25.4cm.)