John Hassall

 

John Hassall RI (21 May 1868 – 8 March 1948) was an English illustrator, known for his advertisements and poster designs. He was born in Walmer, Kent on the 21st of May, 1868, the eldest son of Lieutenant Christopher Clark Hassall R. N., of a Cheshire family of wine-merchants, and his wife, Louisa, daughter of the Rev. Joseph Butterworth Owen, incumbent of St Jude's, Chelsea. Owen's early life was marked by tragedy. Hassall's father, who had served in the fleet at the siege of Sevastapol, was paralyzed as the result of an accident on board ship. He died at the age of thirty-eight. His mother later remarried an officer in the Royal Marines at Chatham, who later became General Sir William Purvis Wright, K.C.B.

He was educated in Worthing, at Newton Abbot College, and at Neuenheim College, Heidelberg. After twice failing entry to The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he emigrated to Manitoba in Canada in 1888 to begin farming with his brother Owen. He returned to London two years later when he had drawings accepted by the Graphic. At the suggestion of Dudley Hardy (along with Cecil Aldin, a lifelong friend), he studied art in Antwerp and Paris. During this time he was influenced by the famous poster artist Alphonse Mucha.