View Your Shopping Basket
Sign-up for our Newsletters

Still Life with Oranges & Cherries, Arthur Dudley

 t. 01935 814465  e. swangallery@aol.com

The Moors at Dusk

The Moors at Dusk, Frederick J. Widgery

Frederick J. Widgery (1861-1942)

Gouache

Signed

Image Dimensions : 8¾" x 17½" (22.2cm x 44.5cm)

Price : Sold

Add Artist to Watchlist


Frederick J. Widgery Biography

The son of William Widgery, who had made a name for himself as a self taught artist, Frederick John Widgery not only became an artist of some repute, but he became a prominent and active councillor and Mayor of Exeter. Born in May 1861, he attended the Exeter Cathedral School where he showed his father's aptitude for art. He went on to the Exeter School of Art and then the South Kensington Museum School before travelling to Antwerp to study under Charles Verlat at the National Art School. Upon his return to England, Widgery studied at Professor Hubert von Herkomer's School at Bushey in Hertfordshire.
Now, with a thorough grounding in painting, he started his career in London in 1889, only to return to Exeter in 1890, to make his way as an artist. Widgery purchased 11 Howell Road from his father, and lived there for 49 years. He established his studio at 20a Queen Street (now Whitton and Laing), close to the modern entrance to Habitat opposite the, by now, flourishing Royal Albert Memorial Museum which incorporated the School of Art.
Widgery soon became involved in many local institutions including the Rotary Club, and as a member of the 1st Devon and Somerset Royal Engineer Volunteers he rose to Captain. He was first elected to the city council in 1898, and after just 5 years, was unanimously elected mayor in November 1903. This was an exciting time for the city, with the planning and construction of a new bridge over the Exe, and new electricity generating station to power a new electric tram system. The adoption of FJ as the city's motor car registration letters, which Frederick John was never slow to point out, was always thought to be in homage to Widgery, but it was alas, a coincidence which has acquired the status of popular myth.

Click here for full biography and to view all available works by Frederick J. Widgery