A Spectacular Pair Of Large Paintings By William Bruce Ellis Ranken

A spectacular pair of paintings by William Bruce Ellis Ranken, ‘Roses & Lilies’, painted in oils on board and within earlier carved wood and gilded frames. Exhibited by the artist at The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, his studio adress 14 Cheltenham Terrace S.W. London.

o.s:30.5 inches x 34.75 inches

 Born in Edinburgh in 1881 and educated at Eton, he went on to the Slade School of Art under the tutelage of Henry Tonks.
He befriended the actor Ernest Thesiger, who married his sister, Janette, and he became friends with Wilfred de Glehn and John Singer Sargent. Ranken’s Chelsea studio was close to that of Sargent’s and it seemed they went together to America at the outbreak of World War I.

Whilst in America, Sargent introduced Ranken to Isabella Stewart Gardner and thereby he received a great many commissions to paint the portraits of the wealthy including the Whitneys, Vanderbilts and Havermeyers. On his return to England in the 1920’s, Ranken continued to paint the portraits of the rich and famous especially the royal family and the aristocracy.
Ranken was elected member of Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Pastel Society and the National Portrait Society. He exhibited at the Royal Academy on twenty three occasions between 1906 and 1941, the last two works, both ‘Flower Piece: late summer’ were exhibited posthumously following Ranken’s sudden death earlier that year.

Further to the above, Wendy & Gordon Hawksley, founders of Willliam Ranken.org, have compiled a splendid document detailing much more of the life and works of William Ranken. We are happy to forward this to you on request.