Frank
Brangwyn, the son of
a Welsh architect, was born in Bruges, Belgium
in 1867. When Frank was ten his family returned to London. He was
apprenticed to William Morris for four years
and afterwards travelled widely. As well as working for The
Graphic and The Idler,
Brangwyn illustrated several books including Collingwood
(1891), The Captured Cruiser (1893),
The Wreck of the Golden Fleece
(1893), Tales of Our Coast (1896),
The History of Don Quixote (1898)
and A Spiced Yarn (1899).
By the early 20th century Brangwyn had a reputation for large pictures
painted in a realistic style. He also designed furniture, carpets,
textiles, ceramics, stained glass, metalwork and jewellery. During
the First World War Brangwyn was an Official
War Artist.
In 1925 Brangwyn was commissioned to paint a set of wall paintings
for the House of Lords. These were competed
and rejected in 1930. This included the impressive war picture, Tanks
in Action. Offers for the murals came from all over the
world but they were eventually installed in the Guildhall in Swansea.
Sir Frank Brangwyn died in 1956.
