Niblett, Jack, 1909 - 1990
Dates
- Existence: 1909 - 1990
Biography
Jack Niblett was born in Gloucester in 1909. He left school at fourteen to start working at Reynold's Flour Mill. During the Second Wold War, Jack served in India with the Royal Air Force. After the war he trained to become a teacher at St Paul's College, Cheltenham and Liverpool Art College. Jack became a primary school teacher and eventually a Deputy Head teacher in Smethwick.
Jack became interested in circus in the 1920s and spent a lot of his adult life visiting circuses around the UK and around the world. Jack developed a large amount of knowledge about circus and became a prolific writer on the subject. He wrote regularly for the World's Fair newspaper and the King Pole magazine as well as occasionally for Zeitung and Circus Report.
Jack was also a keen artist and painted many landscapes and circus scenes. He was the Vice President of the Dudley Society of Arts and exhibited his work regurly. Jack remained active until his death on 5 September 1990 at the age of 81.
Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Circus Photographs, 1910 - 1964
Circus Tent Painting, c1900 - 1999
Oil on canvas painting of white circus tent surrounded by lorries, horses and people in a landscape, signed by Jack Niblett, on reverse painting of female nude.
Circus Tent Painting, c1900 - 1999
Oil on canvas painting of circus tent in a landscape with living wagons on the side, signed by Jack Niblett, on reverse painting of farm yard.
Clown's Portrait Pastel, c1900 - 1999
A white face clown's head portrait wearing a red hat and green top on grey paper on pastel by Jack Niblett, mounted on brown card.
Elephant Watercolour, c1929 - 1990
Watercolour depicting five elephants on a row eating leaves by Jack Niblett, underneath pencil portrait of a woman seating on a chair.
Jack Niblett's Circus Sketches, c1929 - 1990
286 loose sketches and 6 sketchbooks of circus acts, animals and performers from various international circuses including Smarts, Bertram Mills and Robert Bros. by Jack Niblett. Pen and ink, felt pen, watercolour, pencil and pastel.
Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000
Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.
Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999
Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.
The Irish Circus Pastel, c1900 - 1999
Pastel on paper showing a white and blue circus tent on a field with trucks and a horse on the outside, signed by Jack Niblett, inscribed Kilmac Thomas on bottom left corner, framed and glazed.