William Palmer Robins Illinois / United Kingdom (1882 - 1959) Butchery Lane Canterbury / Canterbury Cathedral etching Titled lower left and signed in pencil lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: Born in Southwark, England on July 21st, 1882 , William P. Robins was encouraged to draw and paint by his father, William Benjamin Robins, an art teacher and a naturalist. Subsequently, Robins created over 270 etchings, woodcuts, lithographs, drawings, mezzotints, drypoints, aquatints, watercolors and oil paintings over the course of 77 years. Robins was also an author, an essayist and an illustrator of fine books. His subjects were mainly landscapes, farm scenes with emphasis on trees, harbors with boats and detailed studies of buildings: churches, bridges, as well as a limited number of portraits. He studied at Roan's School in Greenwich as a child, St. Martin's School of Art, and Goldsmith's College. He trained for two years in an architectural firm owned by Professor Banister Fletcher and in 1899 won he Carpenter Company's Silver Medal for The History of Architecture. Choosing not to pursue architecture as a profession, he moved on to St. Martins School of Art and eventually became an instructor. He was there for 20 years. He became Head of the Etching Department in the London County Council Central School of Arts and Crafts. During World War I, he served in the Artist's Rifles. He was a member of the Royal Society of Painters, Etchers and Engravers and was also a member of the Chicago Society of Etchers. He exhibited in Venice, Florence, Paris, Zurich, Chicago (1946), and Los Angeles. He studied with Sir Frank Short and was a contemporary of George Soper and Frank Brangwyn. His obituary appeared on July 15, 1959 in The Times of London newspaper. Sources include: www.wprobins.com/ Information provided by William Lord. 8 7/8"H x 6 1/4"W (Butchery Lane plate), 16 3/4"H x 12"W (frame), 6 1/2"H x 8 3/4"W (Cathedral plate), 12"H x 16 3/4"W (frame)