Charles Haslewood Shannon (26 April 186318 March 1937) was an English artist best known for his portraits. His works featured in several major European collections, including London's National Portrait Gallery. Several authorities spell his middle name Hazelwood. The National Portrait Gallery prefers the spelling used here.

Biography

Shannon was born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, the son of Rev. Frederick William Shannon, Rector of Quarrington, and Catherine Emma Manthorp, daughter of a surgeon, Daniel Levett Manthorp. He then attended the City and Guilds of London Art School (formerly known as South London School of Technical Art, previously Lambeth School of Art) and was later much influenced by his lifetime partner, Charles Ricketts and by the example of the great Venetians. His early work has a heavy, low tone, which he later abandoned for clearer, more transparent colours. He achieved success with his portraits and his Giorgionesque figure compositions, which are marked by a classic sense of style, and with his etchings and lithographs.

thumb|right|Charles Haslewood Shannon; Charles de Sousy Ricketts by [[George Charles Beresford]]

thumb|Untitled, Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums Collection

Dublin Municipal Gallery owns several of Shannon's work, including The Bunch of Grapes and The Lady with the Green Fan (a portrait of Mrs Hacon). Another notable subject was the popular novelist Mary Frances Dowdall. His Study in Grey is at the Munich Gallery, a Portrait of Mr Staats Forbes is located in Bremen, and Souvenir of Van Dyck is at the Melbourne Gallery. One remarkable picture is The Toilet of Venus, once part of Lord Northcliffe collection and is now held at Tate Britain. Later works by Shannon include The Amethyst Necklace (1907), The Morning Toilet (1911), The Embroidered Shawl (1914), and The Incoming Tide (1918). In 1918, he produced various portraits, including those of Princess Patricia of Connaught, Lillah McCarthy, and the actress Hilda Moore. Among his lithographs were Playmates (1908), Ebb Tide (1917), The Tidal River and A Sharp Corner (1919).

Shannon was elected as Associate of the Royal Academy in 1911 and became vice-president of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers in 1918. He was elected RA. IN 1920. Together they designed and illustrated books, set up an art journal, and created the Vale Press, which published over 75 books before it closed in 1904.

He died at his home, 21 Kew Gardens Road, Kew. The funeral took place at Golders Green Crematorium with a memorial service held at St James's, Piccadilly.

Selected works

<gallery mode="packed">

Charles Shannon-Princess Patricia of Connaught.jpg|Princess Patricia of Connaught

Shannon, Charles Haslewood - The Wise and Foolish Virgins.jpg|The Wise and Foolish Virgins

The Birth of Venus - Charles Haslewood Shannon - ABDAG003859.jpg|The Birth of Venus

Charles Shannon - Vanity and Sanctity.jpg|Vanity and Sanctity

Charles Hasslewood Shannon - Souvenir of an "International Ball" (Portrait of Miss Kathleen Bruce) - 1979.16 - Cleveland Museum of Art.jpg|Portrait of Miss Kathleen Bruce

(Venice) Charles Shannon - The Lady with a feather 1903 - Ca' Pesaro.jpg|The Lady with a feather – Ca' Pesaro

</gallery>

References

Sources

  • Guide to the Carl Woodring collection on Charles Ricketts and Charles Shannon, 1846-2001 (Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA)