John Hassall (1868 - 1948)

RA Collection: People and Organisations

English illustrator, known for his advertisements and poster designs.

After having drawings accepted by The Graphic illustrated newspaper in 1890 he studied in Antwerp and Paris at the suggestion of Dudley Hardy (1867-1922) and Cecil Aldin (1870-1935). During this time he was influenced by the poster artist Alphonse Mucha.

In 1895, he began work as an advertising artist for David Allen & Sons, a career which lasted fifty years and included such well-known projects as the poster “Skegness is SO Bracing” (1908). Between 1896 and 1899 alone, he produced over 600 theatre poster designs for the firm while, at the same time, providing illustrations to several illustrated newspapers. Making use of flat colours enclosed by thick black lines, his poster style was very suitable for children’s books, and he produced many volumes of nursery rhymes and fairy stories, such as Absurd ditties by G.E. Farrow (1903) and Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes (1909).

In 1901, Hassall was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and the Royal Society of Miniature Painters. He also belonged to several clubs, including the Langham (until 1898), the Savage, and the London Sketch Club, of which he was a President from 1903-1904.

In 1900, Hassall opened his own New Art School and School of Poster Design in Kensington where he numbered Annie Fish (1890-1964), Bert Thomas (1883-1966), Bruce Bairnsfather (1887-1959), H. M. Bateman (1887-1970) and Harry Rountree (1878-1950) among his students.

John Hassall was the father of poet Christopher Hassall and the printmaker Joan Hassall (1906-1988).