Completed London: Artists and Subjects, Portraits: British 19th C 12 Can we establish the 'Hickson' of this and another portrait of two sitters connected to Guy’s Hospital?

Edward Cock, FRCS, President of the Royal College of Surgeons
Topic: Artist

A Margaret Hickson exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1882 and 1900 https://bit.ly/3hcXBB6 but none were portraits. The auctioneers Ewbanks say that she was active 1879 to 1922. Artbiogs.co.uk list a Margaret Hickson born 1856 https://bit.ly/3hsaPsn.

Martin Hopkinson, Entry reviewed by Art UK

Completed, Outcome

This discussion is now closed. The artist ‘M. Hickson’ was identified as Margaret Hickson (1856–1919).

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the discussion. To anyone viewing this discussion for the first time, please see below for all the comments that led to this conclusion.

11 comments

Bill Ellson,

Margaret Hickson, born 17 Feb 1856 Pancras, daughter of James Hickson and Wilhelmina Thasnelde Adelheid Von Einem, died 11 Dec 1919 Camberwell. Spinster.

"In addition to this class of work, Miss Hickson has painted many portraits,.. ..and a most successful likeness of 'Mr Edward Cock FRCS' presented by his colleagues to Guy's Hospital, where it now hangs in the committee room."
The Queen, The Ladies Newspaper December 22, 1894 (attached)

That was quick: does she feature in any of the usual dictionaries (e.g. Christopher Wood's on Victorian artists or those on women artists by Sara Gray and Deiia Gaze)?

Pieter, Antique Collectors Club 'British Artists 1880-1940'. Exh. 1880-1901. Figure and landscape painter, London Royal Society of Artists, Birmingham 10, Dudley Gallery and New Dudley Gallery 4, Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts 1, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool 4, Manchester City Art Gallery 3, New Gallery 1, Royal Academy 9, Royal Society of British Artists 7, Royal Hibernian Academy 1, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 4, Royal Institute of Oil Painters 3, Royal Scottish Academy 1, Society of Women Artists 18

Jacob Simon,

Bill Elson's superfast spot-on post confirms that the artist of this sympathetic portrait of Edward Cock is Margaret Hickson (1856-1919). As to the portrait of Thomas Bryant, this has a similar signature and is clearly by the same artist.

I propose to recommend closing this discussion at the end of the week to allow time for any further pertinent contributions.

Jacob Simon,

Subject to input from the collection and from Thomas as London Group leader, I now recommend that this short and sharp discussion is closed.

Bill Elson's spot-on post confirms that the artist of this sympathetic portrait of Edward Cock is Margaret Hickson (1856-1919). The portrait of Thomas Bryant has a similar signature and is clearly by the same artist.

Penelope Hines, Collections Manager, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation, email, 19/07/21
'I would be delighted for the collection records to be updated with this information. My thanks to you and colleagues for doing this, so exciting to be looking into the nuance of the collection. '