J.M. Page

The illustrator J.M. Page is an elusive person. All of our research in dictionaries of illustrators, the census and military lists etc. have yielded nothing. It is clear from his work that he was an accomplished artist working in a similar vein to many of the other early 20th century illustrators. Although the 3 paintings in this catalogue are of sea planes from the 1920s, he is also known to have painted the lugger, England's Glory, off the Kent coast at Deal. The back of the picture notes it is Plate III and is inscribed 'Smugglers Boat 1873'. This suggests it was an illustration for publication with the date not that on which it was painted but of the scene, which ties in with a number of rescues England's Glory made.

Page signed his name in a few different ways. Of the four pictures we know of, 2 are simple signed 'Page' with the last 2 digits of the year. The lugger is just signed 'Page' with the location of Deal and the third, the Dornier Dox Seaplane, is signed with what appears to be initials above 'Page 16'. They are difficult to accurately decipher but might be J. M. with a line through part of the M to make it look like an A. They might also be N.J.A or A.J.A. The artist's name is noted twice to the back of the picture of the Supermarine S6 and are given as J.M. Page.

There is not much more to ... show more

The illustrator J.M. Page is an elusive person. All of our research in dictionaries of illustrators, the census and military lists etc. have yielded nothing. It is clear from his work that he was an accomplished artist working in a similar vein to many of the other early 20th century illustrators. Although the 3 paintings in this catalogue are of sea planes from the 1920s, he is also known to have painted the lugger, England's Glory, off the Kent coast at Deal. The back of the picture notes it is Plate III and is inscribed 'Smugglers Boat 1873'. This suggests it was an illustration for publication with the date not that on which it was painted but of the scene, which ties in with a number of rescues England's Glory made.

Page signed his name in a few different ways. Of the four pictures we know of, 2 are simple signed 'Page' with the last 2 digits of the year. The lugger is just signed 'Page' with the location of Deal and the third, the Dornier Dox Seaplane, is signed with what appears to be initials above 'Page 16'. They are difficult to accurately decipher but might be J. M. with a line through part of the M to make it look like an A. They might also be N.J.A or A.J.A. The artist's name is noted twice to the back of the picture of the Supermarine S6 and are given as J.M. Page.

There is not much more to

add to the artist other than we can speculate that perhaps he died young or had a change of career which effected his lack of recognition today. However, the notes to the back point to the pictures all being made for publication.