author
1886–1926
A British illuminator and artist from Essex, he wrote a practical early-20th-century guide to the craft of manuscript decoration. His work reflects both a deep respect for medieval traditions and a hands-on interest in teaching the art to modern readers.
by Sidney Farnsworth
Born in 1886, Sidney Farnsworth was an English illuminator, painter, and graphic artist associated with Little Waltham in Essex. Archival records describe him as the son of an agricultural labourer and later roadman, and they also show that he served his local community as assistant overseer and clerk to the parish council.
Farnsworth is best remembered for Illumination and Its Development in the Present Day, published in the early 1920s and illustrated with his own drawings and diagrams. The book sets out the history, principles, and practice of illumination in a clear, practical way, making it useful both to students of lettering and to readers interested in the revival of traditional decorative arts.
He died in 1926, still relatively young. Although not widely known today, his surviving work offers a vivid glimpse into the Arts and Crafts-era enthusiasm for calligraphy, design, and the handmade book.