Ernest Wallcousins

The Shepherd finds the Babe Semiramis; from Myths of Babylonia and Assyria, by D. Mackenzie

Ernest Charles Wallcousins (né Cousins) (1883–1976) was a British illustrator and later a famous portraitist and landscape painter. He illustrated royal occasions, was an official WWII artist, and painted Winston Churchill's victory portrait for WWII in 1945.

He illustrated Celtic Myth, Legend, Poetry, and Romance, by Charles Squire (Gresham, 1905, 1920); and Myths of Babylonia and Assyria, by Donald A. Mackenzie (Gresham, 1915). His style was pre-Raphaelite, Celtic romance but with strong, muscular fighting heroes as well as romantic women. His work shows dramatic structure, anatomic accuracy and sensuality, with a characteristic vault of space at the top of the design.

He illustrated Bibby's Annual, 1921, including its front cover. He designed posters for the London Underground Group 1925, and became famed for illustrations of royal occasions.

Wallcousins painted a famous portrait of Sir Winston Churchill from life, as the wartime Prime Minister celebrating the Allied victories in 1945. This was commissioned by Odhams Press for the “Victory Book” published in 1946.^[1] His The Hudson Valley, with the Adirondack Mountains beyond (inscribed 'Hudson Valley October Afternoon No 2' oil on canvas was recently resold by Christie's for £5,250.^[2] He also painted Sir Henry Wood, the conductor of the Proms for over 50 years. His works can be found in museums in: the Science Museum, London; and the Museum and Art Gallery, Southend.^[3]

External links

National Portrait Gallery
Works by E. Wallcousins at Project Gutenberg
Analytical Chemistry Laboratory painting in the Science Museum, London Art collection

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