Frank Moss Bennett 1874-1952

Frank Moss Bennett was born in Liverpool in 1874, he was the second eldest of four sons. His father by trade was an iron founder. As a child Frank was educated at home with his brothers. He then went on to Browns House at Clifton College in Bristol.

Even at an early age Frank's talent for art was clearly showing.

He moved to London to study at The Slade School of Art. In 1894 he then went to The St. Johns Wood School of Art to further his studies.

On the 4th February 1896 he was accepted into the Royal Academy School of Art where in 1899 he won the coveted Gold Medal for his work along with a travel scholarship. His works have been displayed at the Royal Academy.

He trained in oils and water colors and there was very little that Frank could not paint, he was at this stage a very accomplished artist.

He married in 1907 a society beauty named Margaret Pellew and they had two children, Barbara & Edward.

He specialized in portrait painting at first, and during and after the 1914-1918 war painted many posthumous portraits. He then extended his works to genre paintings ( many showing the Elizabethan period), these were to be the works that he is most remembered for, both commercially and privately. His water color paintings were also much sought after and he gave several exhibitions in throughout England. From 1912 he also exhibited at The Paris Salon, a show case for artists.

In later life he moved to a farm in Devon where he continued to paint until the day he died, 23rd February 1952.*

His works are becoming very popular again and are sold at auction.
The prints of his works are also worth collecting.

* Extracts from my book Frank Moss Bennett 1874-1952 The Forgotten Artist
* Text Copyright Maureen Elizabeth Son 2006