Frederick Landseer Maur Griggs, often signing his works as F. L. Griggs, was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in 1876. He showed artistic promise early on and went on to study at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. His name reflects the influence of the Victorian animal painter Edwin Landseer, whom his parents admired.
Griggs began his career as an illustrator, contributing to notable periodicals such as The Studio and illustrating travel and topographical books. His finely observed drawings of English towns and landscapes quickly gained attention.
A turning point came when he worked for Macmillan’s Highways and Byways series, for which he illustrated the Highways and Byways in Hertfordshire (1902). His meticulous pen-and-ink style established him as one of the leading architectural draughtsmen of his generation.
In the early 20th century, Griggs turned to etching, where he would make his greatest mark. Inspired by the works of Albrecht Dürer and the Romantic tradition, his etchings depicted idealised yet believable visions of medieval England; ruined abbeys, soaring Gothic spires, and dreamlike townscapes.
He was part of the etching revival movement, which flourished in Britain during the interwar years. His prints, such as Anglia Perdita and Owlpen Manor, became highly sought after. Collectors admired their technical precision and imaginative atmosphere, often infused with a sense of melancholy and nostalgia for a vanished England.
Griggs was deeply influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement, particularly the ideals of William Morris. He settled in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, which was a centre for Arts & Crafts activity thanks to C. R. Ashbee and the Guild of Handicraft.
Griggs became a passionate advocate for the preservation of historic buildings and landscapes. He was a founding member of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and worked tirelessly to conserve England’s architectural heritage.
In 1931, Griggs was elected to the Royal Academy (RA), one of the first etchers ever to receive this distinction. His election was recognition of his role in raising etching to the level of fine art in Britain.
Despite professional success, Griggs lived a fairly quiet life, devoted to his art and conservation causes. His works remained relatively limited in number, around 57 etchings in total, but each is considered a masterpiece of vision and technique.
He died in 1938 in Campden, leaving behind a legacy as both an artist of great imaginative power and a guardian of England’s past.
