JOHN, AUGUSTUS EDWIN (1878— ), British painter, was born at Tenby, Wales, Jan. 4, 1878. He received his art edu cation at the Slade School, London, and afterwards worked in Paris, later spending some time in Provence. He became a regu lar exhibitor at the New English Art Club, and in 1901-2 was teacher of art at University College, Liverpool, returning to Lon don in 1902. His earlier work includes "The Way Down to the Sea" (1906), "The Kitchen Garden," "The Smiling Woman" (1910) and "The Mumpers" (1912). He was commissioned by Sir Hugh Lane to paint a series of decorative panels for the museum in Johannesburg, South Africa. For the Arts and Crafts Exhibition at Burlington House, London, 1916, he executed a mural decoration illustrating "Peasant Industry." During the World War he held a commission as official artist in the Canadian Corps, and exhibited at the Canadian War Memorial Exhibition, 1919, a cartoon for a large decoration, "Canadians opposite Lens." He was later commissioned to paint the chief characters of the Peace Conference. He also painted portraits of Lloyd George (1916), Bernard Shaw (1916), Lord Fisher (1917), Lord Sum ner (1918), the Marchesa Casati (1918-9) and the Princess Bib esco (1924). His etchings form an important part of his work,
the majority being produced between 1901-10. He is represented in the Tate Gallery by several pictures, including "The Smiling Woman," "Peasant Industry," "Robin" (1917-8), and "Rachael," in the Print Room of the British Museum, in the Walker Art Gal lery, Liverpool; in the Birmingham Art Gallery; the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; the National Gallery, Dublin; the museums of Victoria and Melbourne, Australia, and in the Metropolitan Museum, New York. His early work, with its definite contour enclosing areas of colour, relates him to the quattrocento Italian painters. Distortion for personal emphasis and decorative effect is another marked characteristic. He was elected A.R.A. in 1921, R.A. in 1928.
See A. B., Augustus John (1923) ; C. Dodgson, A Catalogue of Etchings by A. John 1901-1914 (1921).