George William Mote1

M, #23, b. circa 1833, d. 6 January 1909
FatherSamuel Mote2 b. 13 Dec 1797, d. 29 Jan 1878
MotherFrances Lucy Goodwin2 d. 5 Sep 1895
RelationshipsNephew of John William Mote
Nephew of Edward Mote
1st cousin 3 times removed of Robert Mote : Site Administrator
EVENTDATEPLACE
Birthcirca 1833Roldey Green, Hertford, England1
Birthcirca 1834Rowley Gulen Barnet, Hertford, England3
MarriageEngland1
Death6 January 1909Heath House, Pitch Hill, Ewhurst, Surrey, England,
Obituary
Mr George William Mote
Mr G W Mote who died on January 6 at Heath House, Pitch-hill, Ewhurst, Surrey, at the age of 77, was at one time a fairly regular exhibitor at the London galleries. His first appearance at the Royal Academy was in 1857, when he exhibited a view of Greenwich Park and Hospital, and his last was in 1873, when he sent a picture with the title "An Evening in Surrey." Most of his pictures were inspired by scenes in Worcestershire, Sussex and Surrey. He exhibited several pictures at the British Institution from 1858 to 1865; but the greater number of his works were hung at the Suffolk-street Galleries to which he contributed from first to last 18 pictures. He had not exhibited since 18774,5
Probate14 April 1909London, England, for a total value of £872-15-8. Probate was to Adah Stuart Franks, a spinster.

RESIDENCES

DATEPLACE
Residence1881Heath House, Ewhurst, Surrey, England1
Residence1901Heath House, Ewhurst, Surrey, England3
AnecdoteBorn in 1832, George Mote was a self-taught artist who worked as a caretaker to Sir Thomas Phillips at Middle Hill Estate in Worcestershire, England. Mote's early pictures consisted primarily of houses and gardens around Middle Hill. His natural abilities as an artist allowed him to excel quickly, and he developed a recognized specialty for landscape and coastal scenes in Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Wales. Over his lifetime, Mote exhibited fifteen paintings at the Royal Academy from 1857-73, 18 works at the Royal Society of British Artists, as well as exhibitions at the British Institution and the Royal Hibernian Academy. Mote later moved to Ewhurst where he lived, with the exception of two years in London, until his death on January 6, 1909.

Mote painted in a very direct style that is reminiscent to the work of British artist John William North (1842-1924). Mote enjoyed painting landscapes through open windows, a technique which allowed him to accurately capture snapshots of rural life in England. In "Shepherdess and Flock", Mote's ability as a draughtsman is evident in his portrayal of gnarled tree branches and use of recessional perspective. Mote's careful observation of detail and color gives his compositions a faithfulness to the beauty of nature in its purest and most true form.

Literature:
E.Benezit, Dictionnairre des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs, Volume 9, Page 899
Christopher Wood, Dictionary of British Art - Volume IV, Victorian Painters, Page 367 (text), Page 331 (illustrations.) 
(Witness) CensusGeorge William Mote appeared on the census of 6 June 1841 in the household of Samuel Mote at Ebonezar Place, Hill Street, Lambeth, Parish of St Mary Newington, England.6 
CensusGeorge William Mote and Phebe Unknown appeared on the census of 1881 at Heath House, Ewhurst, Surrey, England.1 
OccupationGeorge William Mote was an Artist; a landscape painter from 1881 to 1901.1,3 
CensusHe and Phebe Unknown appeared on the census of 1901 at Heath House, Ewhurst, Surrey, England.3 

Family

Phebe Unknown b. circa 1834, d. December 1903
ChartsDescendant Chart - Edward Mote b. before 1775
Last Edited4 Jan 2012

Citations

  1. [S2] 1881 British Census.
  2. [S82] Judith Norton, "Edward Mote's Family," e-mail to Robert Mote, December 2005.
  3. [S12] 1901 England & Wales Census.
  4. [S6] UK Registered BDMs, , death 1909 Q1 Hambledon 2a 147.
  5. [S21] The Times, The Times, Jan 16, 1909; pg. 13; Issue 38858; col E.
  6. [S47] Compiler: British Government, The London 1841 Census, Subject: Images of the 1841 Census Books, Disk 38 H-1064-1.pdf page: 65.