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. 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, born 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 1863-1903; Birmingham Royal Society of Artists; Dudley Gallery; Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts; Walker Gallery, Liverpool; Manchester City Art Gallery; the Royal Society of British Artists; the Royal Hibernian Academy; Royal Institute of Art Painters and the Arthur Tooth & Sons 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 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.

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Works by This Artist