Generations of Artists
Frank Webbe (above photo) was born in 1896 in Queens, New York.
Original Business Calling Card of William Linton Webbe.
W.L. WEBBE & CO. "Agents for First Class Colour Printing at their location: 4 Bouverie Street, Fleet Street, London." |
Frank Webbe was the son of William Linton(back row second from right), and grandson of William Hamilton (back row with pipe and beard) Here they are, pictured outside their print shop in London, of Fleet Street, in the mid 1800's. Both William Linton, and William Hamilton were Fine Art Master
Engravers and Illustrators on Wood. |
An American Illustrator, Frank Webbe's paintings take us back to the early 1900's in New York and Europe. His artwork is a window into a time period of Pen & Ink, Water Colour, and Gouache.
On these pages, we honor his artwork, which now dates beyond a century.
On these pages, we honor his artwork, which now dates beyond a century.
©1915 Frank Webbe
Frank's political illustrations here and abroad, take us down the road of tough times in America and around the world.
Woolworths was a job where Frank worked and retired from as a window display designer for 35 years. In fact, the entire Webbe family back in those days, either met or married someone who had worked at the Woolworths store in Jamaica, New York.
Frank won a prestigious award for his store front window display in the New York City Store in the late 1940's.
Pen and Ink Illustrations
~1915~
©2024 Webbe and Webbe Fine Art
A Peek into the Past
Frank Webbe lived through a time in history when WWI weighed heavily on our nation.
Just shy of his 17th birthday, he tried to enlist in the Army, lying about his age in order to join, but it was soon discovered that he was too young to serve, and he was sent back home.
During this decade of the Twentieth Century, Prohibition becomes law. The Woman's Rights Movement is tabloid news, and the 19th Amendment is ratified.
The Roaring Twenties explodes in full swing— change is in the air.
Flappers bob their hair, a serious statement made by women.
Long hair is considered feminine and bobbed hair...not so much.
Speakeasies are born overnight, and the music of The Jazz Age plays to the backdrop of it all —these were his times.
Brilliant colors flowed from his brushes in the genre design of the times, yet this is all soon to change as the style of Art Deco, popular in France and Western Europe, begins heading toward America; the dawning of Art Deco and Cubism crosses the Atlantic and lands on Frank's easel.
Rich colors and geometry blazed from this new decorative art and architecture movement.
Images of shy and demure women now resided in juxtaposition of images of women who were proud of their power, their bodies, and their new lives in this new decade.
"From her gown, a thin strap once held securely by the shoulder, pulls free from its hold and gently slides down her arm—remaining at that position for the entire evening; an alarming trend!"
Frank Webbe lived through a time in history when WWI weighed heavily on our nation.
Just shy of his 17th birthday, he tried to enlist in the Army, lying about his age in order to join, but it was soon discovered that he was too young to serve, and he was sent back home.
During this decade of the Twentieth Century, Prohibition becomes law. The Woman's Rights Movement is tabloid news, and the 19th Amendment is ratified.
The Roaring Twenties explodes in full swing— change is in the air.
Flappers bob their hair, a serious statement made by women.
Long hair is considered feminine and bobbed hair...not so much.
Speakeasies are born overnight, and the music of The Jazz Age plays to the backdrop of it all —these were his times.
Brilliant colors flowed from his brushes in the genre design of the times, yet this is all soon to change as the style of Art Deco, popular in France and Western Europe, begins heading toward America; the dawning of Art Deco and Cubism crosses the Atlantic and lands on Frank's easel.
Rich colors and geometry blazed from this new decorative art and architecture movement.
Images of shy and demure women now resided in juxtaposition of images of women who were proud of their power, their bodies, and their new lives in this new decade.
"From her gown, a thin strap once held securely by the shoulder, pulls free from its hold and gently slides down her arm—remaining at that position for the entire evening; an alarming trend!"
Hem lines grow shorter; the translucency of fabric is becoming a common sight. Women are shaking off the older social order.
It is a time of fun, change, and a sprinkling of complete chaos.
Picture all of this, and you've landed back in the 1920's.
Franks illustrations and paintings are a window into the progression of the American Modernism Movement, and the evolving 20th Century Woman.
It is a time of fun, change, and a sprinkling of complete chaos.
Picture all of this, and you've landed back in the 1920's.
Franks illustrations and paintings are a window into the progression of the American Modernism Movement, and the evolving 20th Century Woman.
©2022 Webbe & Webbe Fine Art
A FAMILY MAN
Some years later, Frank met a young woman named Margaret,
my grandmother, who it was said had modeled for some of Franks paintings, although she adamantly denied it--always.
Margaret and Frank married and had four children.
The youngest gangster-looking one in front, my father.
my grandmother, who it was said had modeled for some of Franks paintings, although she adamantly denied it--always.
Margaret and Frank married and had four children.
The youngest gangster-looking one in front, my father.
DIAMOND JIM BRADY AND MY
GRANDMOTHER, MARGARET
A famous visitor to frequent the old house in Queens was Diamond Jim Brady.
Diamond Jim, as was told to me by my father, would sit on the stoop at the old house that Grandpa Barbieri built when he came over from Italy.
Frank, a young twenty-year old at the time, along with some of the other neighborhood men, would gather around, leaning over one and other to catch a tale or joke from Diamond Jim. His infamous walking stick clutched to his side.
At times, Jim's presence brought shady characters to their doorstep, and "Margaret" as it was well known, would not hesitate to get a broom and sweep the crowd off the front stoop.
The stories would continue, until Jim’s internal-food-bell rang, and it was time for him to head into Manhattan for dinner.
Jim was a gastronomical legend as well.
Diamond Jim, as was told to me by my father, would sit on the stoop at the old house that Grandpa Barbieri built when he came over from Italy.
Frank, a young twenty-year old at the time, along with some of the other neighborhood men, would gather around, leaning over one and other to catch a tale or joke from Diamond Jim. His infamous walking stick clutched to his side.
At times, Jim's presence brought shady characters to their doorstep, and "Margaret" as it was well known, would not hesitate to get a broom and sweep the crowd off the front stoop.
The stories would continue, until Jim’s internal-food-bell rang, and it was time for him to head into Manhattan for dinner.
Jim was a gastronomical legend as well.
HER STORY
Deborah Webbe, granddaughter of Frank Webbe was also born in Queens, New York.
The lineage of the Webbe family of artists puts Deborah in the status of second, third, forth and fifth great-granddaughter of a Webbe descendent reaching all the way back to London in the year 1786.
The last traceable trade of her fourth great-grandfather, James Webbe Abt.1808, was that he became a carver and gilder in the royal households of Lambeth, Windsor and Buckingham castles.
But moving forward into the middle of the 20th century, Deborah's own exploration into the art of photography began at the age of eight while exploring her father's Black and White Darkroom— swishing paper in a magic liquid that made images appear before her eyes.
Standing in the dim red light on a wooden crate, leaning over a stainless steel sink of trays, a giant black clock sat on a shelf above my head. Its glowing green dial counted down the seconds until a buzzer told me to move the paper to the next tray.
Decades forward, beginning with Parsons School of Design in New York City, I entered and won my first photography contest. This event would lead me down the path of the photographic career that would follow.
From darkroom printing and film developing I was introduced into the studio business and was instructed in the Art of Color Theory, Light, and Printing by "Master of Photography", Vincent A. LoGerfo.
Over the course of my career, I was a studio manager for three major studios on Long Island, and after many years I was hired away from the studio business by a newspaper in New York.
I remained in the newspaper industry for seventeen years and helped to bring color technology and imagery to what was once a black and white paper.
I was honored to be called on to print many of the NPPA,
(National Press Photographers Association) Pulitzer Prize Winning Images for Photo Journalism during my time at the paper.
Years of breaking news, late night sports, and deadline shifts— I had paid my dues.
Later I settled into Pictorial Inspired Landscapes, Still Life, and Quiet Imagery.
By invitation, I was offered a room in the Mansions and Millionaire's Designers Showcase in Mill Neck, New York to showcase my photography and canvas work.
Working with designers, I continue to produce statement pieces in contemporary mediums of Crystal Acrylic Lumachrome, traditionally inspired Hahnemühle Fine Art Papers, Metallics for Giclée reproductions, and Master Canvas Art Images.
You can learn more about my Master Canvas Work here:
Master Canvas Mountings.
I look for beauty in nature wherever I go, and was fortunate to grow up in such a place as Long Island.
Barefoot in the summertime, playing in the swamps with my brother and neighborhood kids, watching fiddler crabs dive into holes, fishing for guppies at the end of the block with our grandmother beside us; and sleeping with an open window at night when the moon was full.
I've always been in awe of the light.
To this end, I commemorate Frank Webbe's artwork from a century past, with the union of Webbe & Webbe Fine Art.
Thanks Pop-Pop ;-)
Our Store Front Window.
Pop- Pop would have been proud.
Pop- Pop would have been proud.
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