LANKESTER, Arthur

1836 - 1901

Arthur Lankester was born at Bury St Edmund's, Suffolk on 25 August 1836 and baptised at Whiting Street Independent Chapel, Bury St Edmund’s on 3 January 1837, son of Frederick Lankester (10 March 1796-24 May 1873), a bookseller, and his wife Sarah née Miller (died 1841). In 1861, Arthur was a 24-year-old artist in oils, living at 2 Percy Street, St Pancras, London with several other artists and sculptors but by 1871 was a draughtsman and had returned to live with his father at 17 Abbeygate Street, Bury St Edmund's. On the death of his father in 1873, he took over his bookselling business at 17 Abbeygate Street, retiring from the business on 1 October 1879, in favour of Frank Prentis. Arthur married at Hampstead Parish Church, London on 20 March 1875, Mary Anne Smith (1836-19 February 1892), eldest daughter of solicitor William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D. In 1881, a 44-year-old house owner, living in Station Road, Reigate, Surrey with his 45-year-old wife Mary Anne, who was born at Islington but by 1891 had taken up his old profession as an artist and, together with his wife, were lodging at Poplar Farm, Woolhampton, Berkshire, his wife died at Bournemouth on 19 February the following year aged 56. He exhibited at the Royal Academy also showing at the British Institution and his 'St Edmunds Abbey in Olden Times' is in Bury St Edmund’s Cathedral. Arthur Lankester died at 'Hawthorns', South-East Road, Ramsgate, Kent on 4 September 1901, aged 65.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from 2 Percy Street, Rathbone Place, London
1863 688 Peace after War
1865 533 Stragglers on the March

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Works by This Artist