Transcript

of

J. Thomas Fouracre [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol.  47, (1915), p. 47.

by

Maxwell Adams (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1915 Exeter meeting. As a useful supplement to the extensive biographical information provided in Mr Fouracre’s obituary, Michael G. Swift’s “Cornish Stained Glass” website presents a great deal of information about the Fouracre and Son studio in Plymouth, as well as the many Fouracre stained glass windows in a variety of buildings throughout Cornwall between 1874 and 1940. In addition, there are two triple-light English windows by Fouracre & Watson of Plymouth in St John’s Anglican Church, Toorak, Victoria, installed in April 1884.
The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Mr. Fouracre, who died on 20 July, 1915, at the age of 71, was born at Stonehouse, where his father carried on the business of a painter and decorator. Having learnt the business, he succeeded his father in due course, but having developed artistic tastes and being an artist of no mean ability, particularly in water-colours, he became, for business purposes, an artist in stained glass, and many churches and public buildings, particularly in the West of England, contain fine specimens of his work. All the windows in the Plymouth Guildhall, with one exception, were designed by him and are among the best examples of his talent, as also the window in the Plymouth Club depicting the siege of Plymouth. Mr. Fouracre's forte was figures in mediaeval costumes, and among the many pictures painted by him perhaps the best is the one in oils, " The Traitor," which hangs in the Plymouth Art Gallery. He did much for Art in Plymouth. He was one of the founders of the late Plymouth Art Club for study from life, and assisted in the establishment and building of the Plymouth Technical School. He frequently lectured on Art, and rendered useful service for the Museum and Art Gallery in Plymouth.
Mr. Fouracre joined the Association in 1908, and contributed a paper on Ornamental Lime-Plaster Ceilings and the Plasterer's Craft in Devonshire to the Transactions in 1909. He was twice elected President of the Plymouth Institution. In 1911 his name was placed upon the Commission of the Peace for the Roborough Division in the County of Devon and he sat at Stonehouse.
He leaves a son, Mr. J. Leighton Fouracre, F.R.I.B.A., and a daughter, Mrs. Alton Wishart.