Painter, illustrator and cartoonist. Baghot-de-la-Bere, or de-la-Bery, was born in Leicestershire and educated at Ilkley College, Yorkshire. He moved to London in the early years of the 20th century and attended Westminster School of Art having briefly attended Leicester School of Art. He then started to contribute illustrations and cartoons to Bystander, Illustrated London News, London Opinion and Pears Annual.

His cartoons in the Sketch rather foreboding in the manner of S. H. Sime, were especially eye-catching. At the same time he was painting Expressionist watercolours of some merit having been elected RI in 1908. He was also elected a member of the London Sketch Club.

His early cartoons were influenced by the posters of John Hassall, but he was to develop a style not dissimilar to some of the German artists’ of the magazine Simplieissimus. His work is arguably almost unique in British Art and his friend and neighbour Edmund Dulac believed that his work foreshadowed that of the Swiss abstract painter, Paul Klee. He illustrated many books including Swift’s Gulliver's Travels, 1904 and Cervantes The Adventures of Don Quixote, 1909. He exhibited his work at the RA, RI, RWA and in 1912 at the FAS.

Bibliography: The Adventures of Don Quixote, translated and abridged by Dominick Daly and illustrated by Stephen Baghot de la Bere. Published by A. & C. Black, London, 1905.

The Adventures of Punch by Ascott Robert Hope, illustrated by S. Baghot de la Bere. Published by Adam & Charles Black, London, 1905.

Travels into several remote nations of the world by Jonathan Swift, illustrated by Stephen Baghot De la Bere. Published by A. and C. Black, London, 1904.

The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes His Fortunes and Adversities by by Sir Clements Markham illustrated by S. Baghot De la Bere. Published by Adam & Charles Black, London, 1908.

With thanks to artbiogs.co.uk

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