DAVIDSON, Thomas

1842 - 1919

Thomas Davidson was born at St George’s Hanover Square, London on 17 January 1842, son of Thomas Davidson (born 1803), a fund holder, of Hyde Park Corner, London, and his wife Eliza. Thomas lost his hearing at the age of 4 and in 1851, a 9-year-old pupil at a school for the deaf & dumb at St George the Martyr, Southwark, kept by Thomas James Watson, B.A. Young Thomas married at St Marylebone, London on 6 July 1871, Charlotte Douglas McHeath (1851-15 June 1930) and in 1881, a 39-year-old artist in painting (deaf & dumb), living at 82 Park Road, Hampstead, London with his 30-year-old wife Charlotte, who was born at Shoreditch and six children, including 7-year-old Allan Douglas Davidson. An artist of great skill, specialising in historical naval scenes, and created memorable paintings illustrating the work of Emily Brontë. He had a close association with St Saviour’s Church in Oxford Street, London, including being part of the Deaf and Dumb Debating Society and on the Committee of the Charitable and Provident Society for the Deaf and Dumb. He exhibited at the Royal Academy 1863-1899; Royal Birmingham Society of Artists; Dudley Gallery; Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; Walker Art Gallery; Manchester City Art Gallery; the Royal Society of British Artists; the Royal Hibernian Academy; Royal Institute of Oil Painters and Arthur Tooth Gallery 1880-1908 from Hampstead in 1880 and from Walberswick, Suffolk in 1908. His daughter Winifred Agnes, who married Steven Van Oss, was the mother of Tom Van Oss. In 1901, an artist, living at 101 Greencroft Gardens, Hampstead, but by 1911 a 69-year-old painter artist living at Mill Field, Walberswick, Suffolk with his 60-year-old wife Charlotte, 34-year-old daughter Agnes Van Oss and three grandchildren. A member and regular exhibitor at the Ipswich Fine Art Club 1912-1919, exhibiting from Seahome, Walberswick in 1912, two oils 'Yeomans Bodyguard' and 'Forgiven', in 1913 'Knight Errant' and in 1915 'Mells Bridge, near Halesworth'. Thomas Davidson was of Seaholme, Walberswick when he died at Southwold Cottage Hospital, Suffolk on 15 November 1919, aged 77, and his wife Charlotte Douglas followed him on 15 June 1930, aged 79.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from 14 St George's Place, Hyde Park Corner, London
1863 118 A Pirate
         485 The Old Church, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight
1868 202 Olivia
         408 On Guard
from 21 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy Square
1869 3 'Drink to me only with thine eyes'
         296 Sad Memories
from 39 Fitzroy Square
1871 371 Hawking
1872 594 The Governess: Dessert Time
         987 An Introduction
1873 179 First Love
         984 Riding to the Tournament
from 192 Alexandra Road, St John's Wood
1874 133 Dead Leaves
1875 845 A Famous Sword
         888 Delicious Solitude
from 82 Park Road, Haverstock Hill, Hampstead
1876 1301 Despatches - miniature
1877 185 The Sea gives up its Dead
1879 580 'Tempus Fugit'
1880 354 Pledge of Love
         498 An Affair of Honour
1881 306 East London Hospital for Children, Shadwell
1882 735 A Passing Thought
from Culloden, Netherhall Road, Finchley New Road
1883 203 The Geneva Cross
1887 582 The Romans in Britain...AD 47
1891 1011 Captive Britons in Rome
from 6 Netherhall Gardens, South Hampstead
1894 418 Trafalgar
from Yetholm, Greencroft Gardens, West Hampstead
1897 544 Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen
1898 457 The Evening before the Battle of Copenhagen
1899 944 Burial of Admiral Blake

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Works by This Artist