Page:Death of Mr G Howell Baker - Glamorgan Gazette - 26 September 1919.jpg



In the death of Mr. G. Howell Baker, A.R.W.A., aged 41, at his residence, Ingleside, Bridgend, there has passed away an artist possessed of great and rare abilities—gifted with a vivid imagination and a strongly marked individuality which infused into his work that quality of vitality which was a distinguishing feature of all his productions. For years he had laboured industriously and unobtrusively, "biding his time," so to speak, and meanwhile encouraged by the highly favourable criticisms of such authorities as the Earl of Plymouth and Sir Ernest Waterlow, R.A. For some time deceased had been far from well; he worked on until two years ago, when unremitting and close application to the toil that was a pleasure to him, resulted in a serious nervous breakdown, which on Friday night last culminated in a fatal seizure. Mr. Baker had travelled much, in Brittany, and elsewhere on the Continent. He was well known in Paris and London, was represented always in the art galleries of Cardiff, Bristol, Swansea, and Aberystwyth. He was an exhibitor at the Salon, Paris, and the "Section de Gravures du Salon Artistes Francais," and at some of the best known London Galleries. He was a lecturer in art for Swansea, Bridgend, Port Talbot, Llantrisant, and Ogmore and Garw Valleys, and five or six years ago was elected a member of the Art Council in connection with the Glamorgan Education Committee. The Earl of Plymouth (always his commendatory critic) accepted the dedication of two pen and ink sketches, one being "The Forest Hymn" (by William Cullen Bryant), and the other, "The Palace of Art" (Lord Tennyson). Mr. Baker mostly excelled in symbolic painting and pen and ink sketches. He was a profound scholar, a great reader, and a poet (above the average), who was a valued contributor to our columns. Amongst Mr. Baker's paintings that have received favourable criticism are "Joan of Arc" in St. Agnes', Rouen; "The Angel of Pity," in Venetian style, which was exhibited in the Salon, Paris; "Dusk," "A Window in the Woodlands," "The Serpent in the Wilderness," "The Model" (a painting which exceptionally took the fancy of Sir Ernest Waterlow), and "In Memoriam: Llanmihangel Church," a pleasing painting in oils which was accepted by the Royal Academy. At etching and silver point, Mr. Baker was also an adept—such was his genius and versatility. His designs for applied arts were exhibited in Europe, in America, and in Australia. At Owen's College (now Victoria University), Manchester, he received honorary mention for biology and zoology, and was first in one of those subjects. Interesting as all the drawings are by this master-hand, one feels intuitively that the most successful are those that obtain their direct inspiration from nature. The war—during which the loftier ideas for which Mr. Baker stood, and the higher inspirations he so effectively interpreted—were more or less obscured—interfered not a little with his projects and designs. After the war, he had intended going to London to publish his eight pen and ink works, each containing several hundred pages; to arrange for an exhibition of his oil and water colour works, and also to be proposed a member of the Etching Association. A son of the late Mr. George Baker (of London and Manchester) and of Mrs. Baker, Bridgend, he was born at Marple, near Manchester. Always very delicate, in his early years he received private tuition at home, until his father engaged a special tutor to assist in his studies. At the age of 14 years and five months he was sent to the Llandudno Collegiate School, where he remained for five years, and afterwards was a student at Owen's College, Manchester. For 17 or 18 years he had been a resident of Bridgend. He was quietly buried on Tuesday in Nolton Churchyard, Bridgend, the Rector (Rev. T. P. Price) officiating. Much sympathy is felt with the mother and sister, and with his fiancee, Miss L. Abbott, daughter of Mr William Abbott, Coychurch Road. Most of Mr. Baker's artistry will live after him, and make for him an enduring name, and it is profoundly hoped that in time the people will have an opportunity of seeing the art treasures at Ingleside.