J.B.W Chronology

1897

Born 3 December, and lived at Redroofs, Maori Hill, Dunedin

1905

Family left New Zealand, finally settling in England. Educated at Rugby

1916

Joined Scottish ambulance unit attached to the French army. Served at Verdun; awarded Croix de Guerre

1918

Entered Oxford gaining a degree in History

1921-22

Turned to architecture and graduated from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University of London. Served as an architect in London

1924

Renounced architecture. Visited Paris and settled in Brussels

1927

First exhibition with the Xylographs Belges and Gravure Originale Belge. A. A. M. Stols of Halcyon Press gave him his first commission: John Keat's Sonnets

1929-30

Moved to Paris. Married Mary Anderson and lived in the Latin Quarter. Became known as a painter-engraver. Continued to illustrate books for Halcyon Press

1933-39

Joined William Hayter's Atelier 17, of which he became a director. Was commissioned to illustrate books for an American publisher

1936

First commission for the Golden Cockerel Press

1939-45

At outbreak of war JBW and his wife returned to London. Worked as Censor in Charge of Reuters. Continued to paint and produce engravings and book illustrations

1940

Chosen as one of five engravers to repsent Britain in the Venice Biennale International Exhibition

1948

Taught students at the Anglo-French Art centre and the Camberwell School of Art

1948-54

Illustrated a number of books for the Folio Society

1952-54

Head of etching and engraving classes at Slade School of Fine Art

1953

Visited Holland. His book Etching and Engraving was published

1954

After a short illness JBW died 27 September, aged 56 years.

 

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University of Otago Master of the Burin: The Book Illustrations of John Buckland Wright, 1897 - 1954 <