Kiyohime

A Life Across Borders

Born in Port Adelaide, South Australia, on 22 February 1855, Mortimer Luddington Menpes lived a life defined by movement and varied interests. He was the second son of James Menpes, a property developer, and Ann, who had moved from London to South Australia. His early years in Australia provided a foundation that would later expand into a global existence. In his early twenties, he migrated with his family back to London, where his formal training began at the School of Art in 1878.

His professional identity was never singular. While many recognize him as a painter, he was equally an author, printmaker, illustrator, etcher, and photo-colourist. He also served as a war artist during the Boer War in South Africa. This versatility allowed him to document much of the world he encountered. His travels took him through England, Japan, India, China, Kashmir, Myanmar, Burma, Egypt, France, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, and Spain.

Artistic Influences and the Japanese Influence

The trajectory of his work changed significantly during a sketching tour in Brittany in 1880. It was here that he met James McNeill Whistler, who became both a teacher and a mentor. Menpes even shared a flat with Whistler at Cheyne Walk in London. Under this guidance, he learned the delicate art of etching. The influence of Whistler is visible in his later work, particularly through the incorporation of Japanese motifs and techniques.

In 1887, Menpes travelled to Japan to experience its culture firsthand. This period resulted in many Japonist works that he brought back to London for his first solo exhibition at Dowdeswell's Gallery in 1888. His fascination with Japanese design was so profound that he decorated his home at 25 Cadogan Gardens in a Japanese style. He produced more than seven hundred different etchings and drypoints, often printing them himself.

A Presence in British Society

Menpes was a figure of the London social scene, known as a raconteur who hosted gatherings at his home. His social circle included a wide array of artists, writers, and prominent figures. He held several professional memberships, including the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, the Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

His later years saw a retreat from the frantic pace of international travel. After his time as a war artist, he settled at Iris Court in Pangbourne. There, he managed Menpes Fruit Farms, where he built forty large greenhouses for growing carnations and eight cottages for his workers. He remained in Pangbourne until his death on 1 April 1938.