Ready for Christmas - William Nicholson's Square Book of Animals

We currently have the whole set of William Nicholson's classic lithographs from his The Square Book of Animals on display in the gallery. All framed and ready for Christmas each print comes with cataloguing information detailing the accompanying poem by Arthur Waugh.

Cock O’ the North! The dawn is young, Grey-glimmering the pane; Yet you, with your discordant tongue, Have woken me again! Good beasts are silent in their pens. Hush! Leave the boasting to the hens.




Cock O' The North
Lithograph
William Nicholson
Published by William Heinemann 1898 
Image 128 x 128 mm
From The Square Book of Animals


Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson (1872 - 1949) was a British artist. A painter of landscapes, still life, and portraits most notably, he is also remembered for his distinctive illustrative work and for his creative partnership with his brother-in-law, James Pryde.

Nicholson studied at Hubert von Herkomer's art school and it was here that he met James Pryde and his sister Mabel, whom Nicholson later married. The pair collaborated under the pseudonym "Beggarstaff" producing fine graphical works and posters. Their work was influential in its design and had an important impact on the poster art movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.