Patten Wilson

At age 19, Wilson dropped out of Kidderminster School of Art, and returned home to pursue a course of self-education, studying the work of Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). In addition, he made studies of animals and plants. His early designs were "spirited and full of invention". Taking a number of jobs, including secretary to the managing director of the Liverpool gymnasium, he continued his artistic endeavors. His earliest published drawings appeared in the magazine Recreation. In 1894 Wilson was introduced to the publisher John Lane, who gave him a commission to design and illustrate Miracle Plays by Katherine Tynan Hinkson in a series of black-and-white line drawings. Subsequently he was invited as a contributor to the newly launched "The Yellow Book', which ultimately published thirteen of his drawings. His first contribution, titled “Rustem Firing the First Shot”, appeared in January 1895, Volume 4, and was inspired by a prose translation of the original epic poem, Rustem and Sohrab by Matthew Arnold. He contributed two more illustrations to the poem in later volumes. Between 1895 and 1897, Wilson also provided title-illustrations for a number of volumes published by The Bodley Head. He contributed an Arthurian illustration to The Builder Magazine in 1896 and several illustrations to The Architectural Review in 1898. That same year, he was commissioned to provide illustrations for a volume of poetry by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In 1901 he was asked by J. Dent to create twenty illustrations for The Gospel Story of Jesus Christ, along with three other books for that publisher, including another one hundred illustrations for A Child's History of England by Charles Dickens. After 1905, he abandoned line drawings in favour of colour and half-tone, and moved into the fields of natural history and mythology. In April 1900, Wilson married Alice Harding. He died on 22 January 1934 in Chelsea, London.

Training under Frederick Brown is recorded. The recorded working language is English. Places of work recorded in the authority are London. Employment is recorded with John Lane. Work by Patten Wilson is recorded in the collections of Musée d'Orsay and J. Paul Getty Museum.

• Name — Patten Wilson • Born — 23 March 1869 • Birthplace — Shropshire, England • Died — 22 January 1934 • Place of death — London, England

Patten Wilson is recorded with the occupation illustrator. Recorded as illustrator, artist, draftsperson and painter.