Norman Wilkinson

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Referee
SexMale
Full nameNorman L.•Wilkinson
Used nameNorman•Wilkinson
Born24 November 1878 in Cambridge, England (GBR)
Died30 May 1971 in ?, Isle of Wight (GBR)
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Norman Wilkinson was a British artist who was considered the doyen of British marine artists. He was educated at Berkhamsted School of Art and St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir School. In 1898 Wilkinson began contributing to The Illustrated News and The Illustrated Mail, which was the beginning of a long association. In Paris in 1899 he studied figure painting but was already set upon working on marine subjects. He had a painting of Plymouth that hung in the smoking salon of the Titanic.

During World War I Wilkinson served in the Dardanelles, on submarine patrol in the Mediterranean and a minesweeper in the English Channel. While not an official war artist, he made many drawings of his time in the Dardanelles. During World War II he invented “dazzle” camouflage to protect merchant ships from attack. Wilkinson was best known for his work in water colors, and in 1937 was elected President of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours. He was also a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. Wilkinson was an experienced sailor and was the Official Marine Painter to the Royal Yacht Squadron.

In 1948 Wilkinson only participated “out of competition” because he was also a member of the jury. He depicted fishing and here especially Trout Fishing in several oil paintings and numerous etchings. In the title they often differ only by indicating the localities in Great Britain, the USA or Canada, which, however, is missing in the art catalog. Among others, Trout Fishing on the Test (etching, 19.5 x 26 cm), Trout Fishing on Loch Laggan (etching, 22 x 31 cm) or Trout Fishing in Maine (etching, 22 x 30 cm) are potential candidates. The painting Fastnet Race is shown in the catalog, but could not be identified elsewhere. Also Pool at Findhorn could not be verified. The Fastnet Race is a traditional regatta on a course between the Isle of Wight, Ireland and Cherbourg, while the Findhorn River is a river in Scotland rich in fish with the spectacular Sluie Pool. Evening rise, Loch Poulary also shows a fishing scene on a lake in the Scottish Highlands (35.5 x 50.8 cm). The latter was an oil painting, probably also Wilkinson’s other paintings exhibited in 1948.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Art Competitions GBR Norman Wilkinson
Painting, Graphic Arts, Open (Olympic) AC
1948 Summer Olympics Art Competitions GBR Norman Wilkinson
Painting, Paintings, Open (Olympic) HC
Painting, Paintings, Open (Olympic) HC
Painting, Paintings, Open (Olympic) HC

Referee

Games Sport (Discipline) / Event NOC / Team Phase Unit Role As
1948 Summer Olympics Art Competitions GBR Norman Wilkinson
Painting, Paintings, Open (Olympic) Final Standings Judge