BASKETT, Charles Edward

1845 - 1929

Charles Edward Baskett was born at Culver Street, Colchester, Essex on 5 November 1845, son of William Baskett, a master shoemaker, and his wife Patience. Charles began his working life as a plumber but studied at Colchester School of Art in 1869 and later studied under Sir Hubert von Herkomer (1849-1914) at Bushey School of Painting. He married at St Nicholas Church, Colchester on 26 February 1871, Annie Sparke (1844-1875), daughter of Henry Sparke, and their son was Charles Henry Baskett, at that time Charles Edward was giving private lessons in oil and watercolour painting from 3 Maidenburgh Street, Colchester. In 1910 he took up printmaking and by 1922 had produced around one hundred plates, mostly aquatints depicting the low-lying countryside and coastline of the locality. Headmaster of the Albert School of Art at Colchester in 1894 and a founder member of the Colchester Art Club and in 1895 of Colchester Camera Club. A still life painter and etcher and a member of the Ipswich Fine Art Club 1896-1927 and exhibited from Felixstowe in 1915, four works, a mezzotint 'The Howling Wintry Sea', two etchings 'In the Pool of London' and 'Houses of Parliament from Lambeth' and a charcoal drawing 'Rough Sea of Hastings', and from a new address in 1923 'Almount', Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex, a watercolour 'West Mersea'. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy also showing at the Walker Art Gallery, Manchester City Art Gallery, the Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Society of Painter-Etcher and the Royal Hibernian Academy from Colchester, Essex in 1883 and from Felixstowe, Suffolk in 1913. In 1911, he was living at 14 Hospital Road, Colchester but retired in 1912 and moved to 'Lansfield', Gainsborough Road, Felixstowe but continued with his art and lectured at Ipswich School of Art. His wife died at Felixstowe in 1918, aged 70 when Charles went to live with his son Charles Henry Baskett. Charles Edward Baskett died at 'Longcroft', Chelmerton Avenue, Great Baddow, Essex on 16 July 1929, aged 83. One of his etchings was shown at the centenary of Ipswich Art Club in 1974 'The Last Drink'. His and his son's work are sometimes conflated.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from 11 George Street, Colchester
1874 1004 Mallard and Teal - watercolour
from Gray Road, Colchester
1886 1521 Lexden Springs, Colchester - etching
         1522 Castle Gate, Colchester - etching
1887 1453 A Bend in the River - etching
         1499 Ballasting: Wyvenhoe - etching
         1500 On the Colne, Essex - etching
from Charlton Villa, Grays Road, Colchester
1890 1617 Old Bridge, Stratford St Mary - etching
1891 1588 Stratford St Mary - etching
         1602 The Wishing Gate - etching
         1604 Donyland Wood: Winter - etching
1892 1473 A Stitch in Time saves Nine - etching
1893 1363 On the Marshes: Evening - etching
1894 1369 An Old English Stable - etching
         1371 The 9.20 up - etching
1895 1290 An Old Stackyard, Winter - etching
from 'Charlton', Hospital Road, Colchester
1912 1438 The Thames' swirling tide - etching
from Lensfield, Gainsborough Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk
1918 1181 Under a Thames Bridge - etching
         1230 On the East Coast - etching




Works by This Artist