Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning
Other names: Pen
Born 9 March 1849
Died 8 July 1912
Active: 1862 - 1888
Country of birth: England
Country of death: Italy
Painter, sculptor
Son of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, known as 'Pen'. His friends included, George Washington Andrew Kinloch of Balhary (1853-96). In January 1874 Pen began studying under the painter, Jean Arnould Heyermans in Antwerp where he was joined by Kinloch in December of that year. It appears the two men remained for most of the time in Antwerp or Dinant until about 1885. A break from this occurred in 1882-83 when Pen was accepted as a student of Auguste Rodin, who he met through the businessman and artist, Gustav Natorp. Pen and Natorp together with Kinloch were part of a circle of disciples surrounding Rodin and who availed themselves of his 'valuable advice'. Pen was judged more talented than his friend Kinloch by his teachers (according to correspondence in the Robert Browning archive but this may have been flattery intended to please the poet). Later in his career, Pen lived in Italy and died at Asolo, Veneto.
There are details of his works in 'The Brownings: A Research Guide' a website established at The Armstrong Browning Library, Baylor University, see 'The Browning Collections' http://www.browningguide.com/rc_search_action.asp (accessed 7 December 2012)
Wealth at death: £1,359 11s. 1d.
Probate date: 12 December 1912
Locations
Address 19 Warwick Crescent London | View on map
1878 (Circa) - 1884 (Circa)
Address Asolo Veneto | View on map
1912
Died while living at this address
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1878 - 1884
Exhibited 7 times as a painter and sculptor, eleven works in all. One piece is definitely identified as a sculpture (Adelia Abbruzzesi, bust, bronze, cat. no. 1604, exhibited in 1883)
Institutional and Business Connections
Member of committee at The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1888 (Circa)
Listed as one of 20 sculptors invited to be part of selection and hanging committee for 'National Exhibition of the Arts'
Personal and Professional Connections
Friends with George Washington Andrew Kinloch
They studied together c.1874-85 under the painter, Jean Arnould Heyermans in Antwerp and Dinant. They also became part of a circle of disciples surrounding Rodin in 1882-83, which included the artist and businessman, Gustav Natorp. All three availed themselves of the French sculptor's 'valuable advice'.
Friends with Gustav Natorp
Natorp, 'Pen' Browning and George Washington Kinloch availed themselves of Rodin's 'valuable advice' in 1882-83. They then became part of a circle of disciples surrounding the French sculptor. (see Lampert, 'Rodin', London, 2006, p.35)
Sources
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Papers relating to the founding of the Society
1888 (Circa)
'National Exhibition of the Arts'. Listed as one of 20 sculptors invited to be part of selection and hanging committee.
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Robert Barrett Browning
Probate Date: 12 Dec 1912
Death Date: 8 Jul 1912
Death Place: Italy
Registry: London, England
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2004
Clyde de L. Ryals, ‘Browning, Robert (1812–1889)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2006 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/3714, accessed 23 Oct 2009]
Rodin
2006
p. 35 and fn. 31, letters from Robert Browning to Rodin dated 16 April and 2 August 1882, and 4 May 1883, archives of the Musée Rodin, Paris.
Citing this record
'Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1208960987, accessed 02 Jun 2023]
