| BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS |
|
Robert Mackay Fripp, architect, whose reputation and renown are based upon his artistic
nature, thorough training, and well developed powers, was born in Clifton, England,
December 16, 1858, his parents being George Arthur and Mary Fripp. George Arthur Fripp,
R.W.S., was at one time court painter to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. Robert M. Fripp was educated at Belsize Manor, a private school, and under private tutorship. In 1874 he began the study of architecture in London and ten years later entered upon the active practice of his profession in Auckland, New Zealand, where he remained for about four years. In 1888 he came to Vancouver, where he has since practiced his profession, but prior to that time he had traveled to a considerable extent, studying widely in connection with his business. Beginning in 1878 he spent about a year in travel in South Africa, another year in eastern Asia, the third year in Europe, and from 1881 until 1884 he was in Tasmania and Australia. He then began practice in Auckland, New Zealand, remaining there from 1884 to 1888, when he came to the northwest. Since that time he has lectured to some extent at Chautauquas, art clubs, arts and crafts societies and before other organizations, delivering a course of lectures on art and archaeology and architectural ornament. His wide reading, his broad experience and his deep research have enabled him to speak not only entertainingly but also with authority upon questions relating to architecture in any of its various phases or with reference to its history. He was again in New Zealand from 1896 to 1898 and in the latter year returned to British Columbia. From 1901 until 1908 he was in England and California and was made a certificated architect (L.A.C.) in 1906. In 1908 he returned to Vancouver, where he has since engaged in practice, and in 1910 he was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He became also a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1901 but afterward resigned. He is the author of essays on Arts and Crafts, the Maori Art and others, and his writings are of deep interest to all who have had technical training along those lines or who have an artistic sense that finds gratification in carrying on investigation of that character. On the 27th of February, 1887, at Auckland, New Zealand, Mr. Fripp was united in marriage to Miss Christina Nichol, a daughter of John W. and Annie Nichol. Her father, late of Jesmond, near Newcastle, England, was a representative of an old English family. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fripp have been born four children, George Mackay, Clifford Russell, Alice and Dorothea. Mr. Fripp was for several years a member of the First Berkshire Volunteers. In South Africa he joined the mounted infantry, with which he was connected for eighteen months, and he was also a member of the New Zealand Garrison Artillery and later of the New Zealand Mounted Infantry. While in that country he became a member of the New Zealand Lodge, F. & A.M., and his religious faith is that of the Anglican church. That he is interested in municipal affairs and in those things which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride is indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Vancouver City Beautiful Association and a vice president of the Arts, Historical, and Scientific Association; also a member of the Board of the Canadian Club, and more strictly along professional lines he is connected with the Pylon Architectural Club of Vancouver and the Canadian Handicrafts Guild of Vancouver, being president of the former and vice president of the latter. Actuated at all times by a spirit of progress, he could never content himself with mediocrity along professional lines and has gained that broad knowledge and well merited reputation which come through wide study and highly developed powers. |