This thread discusses the Content article: Logsdail, William


Might I introduce Logsdail's wife, May?

You have to hit the right combination of words in searches; very frustrating. Finally hit the right one to find information on Logsdail's wife, but just a bit. A PDF of a Teacher's workbook for the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath revealed a telling story about what it was like to work with Logsdail: he had his wife May stand for five hours while he painted the folds of her black skirt for a 1905 portrait (I don't think the entire thing would copy well here). He simply forgot the time when he worked; he noticed how long it had been when she fainted!

I am still looking for marriage dates for him, if anyone knows. I am trying to make the play date accurate and don't want to mention his wife in the wrong context for 1893. I believe he married in the 90's but am not sure of the date.

The Bridgeman Art Gallery has a lovely 1910 portrait of their daughter Mary.

If you can get hold of the Usher Gallery's exhibition catalogue about William Logsdail, that reproduces several photos of Logsdail's wife and their daughter. Both were very attractive and looked like 'Waterhouse girls' - I don't know if either modelled for Waterhouse however. The catalogue appears on Ebay every now and then, or I'm going to the Usher Gallery v.soon so I'll see if it's in their shop.

Logsdail was friendly with Frank Bramley from an early age, they both came from Lincolnshire and studied together in Europe and travelled on holidays together too.

Logsdail married Mary Ann Ashman in 1892 in London (source: "England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1983"). Their honeymoon was spent in Venice, where they ended up staying for most of the 1890s.

Thank you, Julia!

Good...I don't have to change anything. Thank you for checking about the catalog.

I had wondered earlier this month if this might not be a sketch of her
and was happy to see I might be right, though it's just as possible that I remember seeing the portrait, and the sketch reminded me of it.

There is a 4 page illustrated article about William Logsdail in the December 2007 issue of 'Artists & Illustrators' magazine.

"William Logsdail: The Shy Realist" by Jon Jayes, illustrated with examples of Logsdail's work in the collection of the Usher Gallery, Lincoln.

"He produced the 'painting of the year' and his work was bought for the nation, yet today, Victorian artist William Logsdail is largely unknown.... Surely it must be time for a retrospective of the work of this shy, talented artist?"

Sounds wonderful ... looking to find a copy. (or are they only available by sub_script_ion?)

Does anyone know if Nicholas and/or Alex Logsdail are descendants of Logsdail?