Gilbert, John RA PRWS (Sir)

1817

1897

Gilbert was an immensely prolific illustrator (nearly 30,000 illustrations for “The Illustrated London News”). He gave up his career as an estate agent at an early age in order to take up painting. He illustrated about 150 books and was elected President of the Old Watercolour Society in 1871, knighted the following year and elected Academician in 1876. He exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1838 and the year of his death. Gilbert was a better draughtsman than painter, his pictures being for the most part of a turgid, romantic nature. He became a member of the Garrick Club in 1852.