author
Charles Whymper
1853–1941
Remembered for vivid bird and animal art as much as for his books, this English illustrator brought natural history to life for late Victorian and Edwardian readers. His work ranged from wildlife studies and sporting scenes to books that reflected an early concern for species loss.
1 Audiobook
Egyptian Birds For the most part seen in the Nile Valley
by Charles Whymper
About the author
Born in London on August 31, 1853, Charles Whymper grew up in a family of artists: he was the son of the engraver and painter Josiah Wood Whymper, and the brother of the better-known mountaineer and writer Edward Whymper. He studied at the Royal Academy Schools and built a career as a painter, illustrator, and occasional wood-engraver, especially known for landscapes, animals, birds, and sporting subjects.
As an author and illustrator, he is closely associated with natural history. Books linked to his name include Egyptian Birds and Lost and Vanishing Birds, along with illustrations for works on travel, rural life, sport, and wildlife. That mix of close observation and visual skill helped make his nature writing appealing to general readers as well as enthusiasts.
Whymper died on April 25, 1941. Today he is remembered not only as a skilled wildlife artist, but also as part of a remarkable creative family whose work connected art, exploration, and the popular study of the natural world.