Cat artist Louis Wain

Famous cat artist champion lived here.
Location: 41 Brondesbury Road, Willesden
Description: Louis Wain (1860-1939) was born in Clerkenwell where he lived with his mother and five sisters. He studied at the West London School of Art before becoming a teacher and supplementing his income with sketches of animals and country houses published in magazines and newspapers. His cats playing guitar, dancing and serving tea, won him legions of fans across Victorian Britain and elevating the humble cat to cult status.
While he was living here in Willesden supporting his sisters, the market for his pictures declined as the first world war dominated periodicals. His health deteriorated and in 1924 his sisters had him certified insane and admitted to a pauper ward at Springfield Mental Hospital in Tooting.
He continued to produce artworks in the hospital, but despite moves to Bedlam and other hospitals he never recovered enough to leave and following a stroke survived until 1939.


Famous cat artist champion lived here. |
Ranking This Month: 19/3075
Pages Hit This Month: 76
Your Comments:
Other places nearby:
V&As Henry Cole lived here», 3.0km
Joshua Reynolds lived here», 3.4km
Bridge That Curls Up Into a Ball», 16.km
Banksy's Scrabble Makes You ...», 1.8km
The Wallace Collection», 2.3km
Francis Bacon's Studio», 3.1km
Astor House», 4.0km
JMW Turners House», 7.6km
Antonio Canaletto lived here», 3.1km
Hogarth's House», 4.2km
Location Pinpointed:
Open Street Maps», Google Maps»