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Tuesday 11/06/2007 10:18:57am
Name: Paul hussey
E-Mail: Cats,Kittens,Dogs,Birds,Horses,Wildlife art by artists from 1680-1950s.
Homepage Title: Cats,Kittens,Dogs,Horses,Birds artprints
Homepage URL: http://www.Fabprints.com
Referred By: Search Engine
Location: Havant, UK
Comments: May I say your site is very informative and the cats pyjamas-MIAOW!!

Do you mind if I leave an article about one the funniest Cat artists in england Louis Wain 1860-1939?


Louis Wain 1860-1939


Louis Wain was born in London’s Clerkenwell district in 1860 and eventually became an artist, selling his sketches of dog shows to the Illustrated Sporting News. He married his youngest sister's governess, Emily Richardson, which was considered quite scandalous at the time.

Louis William Wain studied at the West London School of Art, and began his career as an art journalist. However, it was for his pictures of cats that he eventually became famous. From the 1880s until the outbreak of the First World War, the ‘Louis Wain cat’ was hugely popular. Appearing in prints, books, magazines, post-cards and annuals, Wain’s cats are to be found engaging in every form of human activity - from playing cricket, digging up roads, and riding bicycles, to parading the latest fashions at Ascot and making pompous after-dinner speeches at the club.

His wife contracted breast cancer and died three years later. To entertain her on her sickbed, Wain started drawing their cat, Peter. Emily encouraged him to send these drawings to newspapers and magazines, and soon the Louis Wain cat was a household name, not only in Britain but also in America, where his comics and drawings of cats appeared in several newspapers.

Louis Wain was elected as President of the National Cat Club and wrote the book 'In Animal Land with Louis Wain' in 1904. Wain continued drawing cats for newspapers and children’s books until he fell victim to schizophrenia in 1917 at the age of 57 ( He fell off an Omnibus and hit his head ).

During the onset of his disease at 57, Wain continued to paint, draw and sketch cats, but the focus changed from fanciful situations, to focus on the cats themselves. Characteristic changes in the art began to occur, changes common to schizophrenic artists. Jagged lines of bright color began emanating from his feline subjects. The outlines of the cats became sever and spiky, and their outlines persisted well throughout the sketches, as if they were throwing off energy.

Coupled with WWI and the public dwindling interest it cats, Wain soon fell into poverty and in June 1924, he was certified insane and committed to Springfield Hospital (the former Surrey County Asylum) at Tooting.

‘Discovered’ by a hospital visitor the following year, he was transferred to Bethlem Hospital. after a campaign by admirers of his work, including the Prime Minister Ramsey Macdonald,King George & H.G.Wells a foundation was set up for him which enabled Wain to spend the last years of his life in comfort in private asylums in Southwark and Napsbury, where he continued to paint and draw his cats. The Hospital was at that time at St George’s Fields, Southwark.

In 1930 Louis Wain was transferred to Napsbury Hospital , near St Albans . He continued drawing until near the end of his life, and exhibitions of his work were held in London in 1931 and 1937. He died at Napsbury on 4 July 1939. Louis wain is buried at Kensal Green Cemetary London in the same buriel plot as his family. Alas, the plot is now very neglected.

I am a collector and seller of Louis Wain 1860-1939 Funny Cats and Dogs on Fine ArtPrints. My aim is to spread the name and humour of a great Cat,Dog and Animal Artist. If you would like to see some of his work please visit my hobby website. My collection totals 100+ Pictures which are on display at my website:**** http://www.geocities.com/fabprints2/LW.html
******* http://www.geocities.com/fabprints2/SPORTS.html



Monday 02/12/2007 2:47:28pm

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Saturday 12/16/2006 3:33:16pm
Name: Peekvids
E-Mail: webmaster@peekvids.com
Homepage Title: Peekvids.com
Homepage URL: http://www.peekvids.com
Referred By: Search Engine
Location: Colorado
Comments: Funny and bizzare videos, free games and more. Updated daily.



Sunday 09/10/2006 7:57:41am

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Thursday 08/03/2006 10:34:03am
Name: Hadilene
E-Mail: angeleyesgirl1551@yahoo.com
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