Crane, Walter

About the artist

Name

Crane, Walter

Biography

Walter Crane was born in 1845 in Liverpool, though he spent his early years in Torquay. Crane's father was an artist, so Crane had early exposure to the lifestyle of an artist. In 1859, Crane was apprenticed to the politically radical London engraver, W. J. Linton. From Linton, Crane was taught how to be a draughtsman, as well as being exposed to liberal political ideas and cutting-edge artistic styles. Starting in the 1860s, Crane made a name for himself by illustrating a series of children's books for Routledge, which, in addition to being well designed, were sold for between 1 and 5 shillings, making them available to a large audience. Crane, while continuing to design children's books as well as home decoration and paintings, became a socialist in 1884, leading to the setting up of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, of which Crane was president for the next twenty or so years. Crane had exhibitions on the Continent in 1893-6 as well as in 1900, which exhibited his more traditional 'fine art'. Also from 1893-6, Crane was the Director of Design of the Manchester School of Art, moving on as principal of the Royal College of Art in 1898, though he resigned after a year. Crane continued to design and paint and to be politically engaged until his death in 1915.

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