George Pilkington

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGeorge William•Pilkington
Used nameGeorge•Pilkington
Born18 September 1879 in Sea Point, Capetown, Western Cape (RSA)
Died17 April 1958 in St. James, Capetown, Western Cape (RSA)
NOC South Africa

Biography

South African painter George Pilkington was mainly self-taught, instructed by James Ford (?-1910), a well-known Cape Town art-teacher of the 1890s. In 1905 he was elected a lay member of South African Society of Artists, as painting was only a hobby to him at that time. He became a civil servant, serving as private secretary to Henry Burton (1866-1935), who was variously South African Minister of Finance and Minister of Railways and Harbours.

Pilkington was also a very keen yachtsman and trout fisherman. In 1924 he began a full-time painting career, devoting himself almost exclusively to marine subjects, occasionally also landscape and harbor scenes, mostly as oil paintings. His paintings caused a sensation when shown for the first time in Johannesburg. He later also produced two commissioned murals – Disembarkation at Cape Town, 19th Century, and Embarking at Cape Town, 20th Century – for the Cape Town Post Office. Initially he also produced cartoons and caricatures about life in Cape Town. His younger brother was the architect and painter Gordon Pilkington (1886-1968).

The painting with the full title Yacht Racing: Around and Away is confirmed to be the one submitted in 1948. It is dated 1947, painted in oil on canvas, 43.5 x 62.5cm.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Art Competitions RSA George Pilkington
Painting, Paintings, Open (Olympic) AC