Artist: Henry Gillard Glindoni (English, 1852-1913)
Title: Scene from The Birds of Aristophanes
Medium: Antique Heliogravure on thick laid paper after the original by Dujardin.
Signature: Signed in the Plate, lower right.
Dimensions: Image Size 8 1/8 x 10 5/8 inches.
Framed Dimensions: Approximately 17 x 20 inches.
Framing: This piece has been professionally matted and framed using all new materials.
“The Birds” (Gr: “Ornithes”) is a comedy by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. It was first performed in 414 BCE at the City Dionysia festival, where it won second prize. The story follows Pisthetaerus, a middle-aged Athenian who persuades the world’s birds to create a new city in the sky (thereby gaining control over all communications between men and gods), and is himself eventually miraculously transformed into a bird-like god figure himself, and replaces Zeus as the pre-eminent power in the cosmos.
Henry Gillard Glindoni was an English painter noted for his depiction of period costumery in historical and genre scenes. He was one of a family of five orphans. Henry Gillard Glindoni his father was a scenery painter on Dury Lane working in the theaters along with at least Henry, orphaned Glindoni was obliged to take care of himself from the age of 14, which he did by taking various acting and painting jobs. He was drawn into the world of theater and became a scenery paint further augmenting his finances by sketching the actors with whom he came in contact. He also tried his hand at porcelain painting. Encouraged to study art, he attended Maurice’s Working Men’s College and the Castle Street School of Art after encouragement from fellow actors to study art. Glindoni’s speciality was that of 17th and 18th century costume and he was noted for his paintings of Cardinals. He settled in Chadwell Heath some time after 1891, living in a new cottage which still exists at the corner of Mill Lane and Whalebone Lane North, New Villa. Glindoni frequently exhibited between 1872 and 1904, at the Royal Academy, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, Old Water Colour Society, the Society of British Artists in London, and the Royal Society of Artists in Birmingham. He was accepted as a full member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1879 and an associate of the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours in 1883. It is well known fact the I in The name was taken off due to a family feud after seeing the family tree which has been tracked back many years and that the name comes from Pisa in Italy. He is buried in st George’s church cemetery in Romford along with his wife Ruth. His work may be seen at Valence House Museum.