
Thomas Allom (1804-1872)
Born in London, Allom was apprenticed to the architect Francis Goodwin in 1819. He was a founder member of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1834 and worked with Sir Charles Barry on designs for the Houses of Parliament and for Highclere, Hampshire.
In addition to his architectural work, Allom was also a prolific watercolour artist. He travelled extensively in Britain and on the continent. The topographical views he drew and painted on his travels were engraved by his contemporaries and published widely. His training in architecture is in evidence in many of his works (for example, in the work showing the interior of Hexham Abbey, right); he was also a highly proficient landscape painter.
According to Grant (1952, p.11), Allom’s work was ‘unsurpassed for clarity and accuracy… [his] labours, in addition to a not inconsiderable practice in architecture, composed a life’s work seldom equalled in art.’
Collections
British Museum, London
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Grosvenor Museum, Chester
Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Literature
Cundall H M (1929), A History of British Watercolour Painting, Batsford
Grant M H (1952), A Dictionary of British Landscape Painters, F Lewis Ltd
Mackenzie I (1988), British Prints, Antique Collectors’ Club
Mallalieu H L (1988), The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920, Antique Collectors’ Club
Redgrave S (1878, 1970 reprint), A Dictionary of Artists of the English School, Kingsmead Reprints
Williamson G C, Ed. (1904), Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, George Bell and Sons
Wood C (1998), Victorian Painters, Antique Collectors’ Club
Born in London, Allom was apprenticed to the architect Francis Goodwin in 1819. He was a founder member of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1834 and worked with Sir Charles Barry on designs for the Houses of Parliament and for Highclere, Hampshire.
In addition to his architectural work, Allom was also a prolific watercolour artist. He travelled extensively in Britain and on the continent. The topographical views he drew and painted on his travels were engraved by his contemporaries and published widely. His training in architecture is in evidence in many of his works (for example, in the work showing the interior of Hexham Abbey, right); he was also a highly proficient landscape painter.
According to Grant (1952, p.11), Allom’s work was ‘unsurpassed for clarity and accuracy… [his] labours, in addition to a not inconsiderable practice in architecture, composed a life’s work seldom equalled in art.’
Collections
British Museum, London
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Grosvenor Museum, Chester
Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Literature
Cundall H M (1929), A History of British Watercolour Painting, Batsford
Grant M H (1952), A Dictionary of British Landscape Painters, F Lewis Ltd
Mackenzie I (1988), British Prints, Antique Collectors’ Club
Mallalieu H L (1988), The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920, Antique Collectors’ Club
Redgrave S (1878, 1970 reprint), A Dictionary of Artists of the English School, Kingsmead Reprints
Williamson G C, Ed. (1904), Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, George Bell and Sons
Wood C (1998), Victorian Painters, Antique Collectors’ Club
Our collection of engravings after Thomas Allom's paintings can be viewed here.