EDWIN DEAKIN 1838-1923

CA (Strongest affiliation)

landscape, architecture, still lifeBrother of Frederick H. Dakin

An aristocrat from England with minimal artistic training, Edwin Deakin settled in Nrthern California where he painted landscapes of ruins and historic architecture and scenes from a genteel time in the past such as medieval streets in London, romantic views of castles, and quaint English villages.

He was born in Sheffield, England and came to America in 1856, living first in Chicago where he earned some reputation for portraits of Civil War Heroes. In 1870, he moved to San Francisco and set up a studio and soon was very much a part of the local art scene. He was a member of the Bohemian Club and a close associate and studio mate of Samuel Marsden Brookes.

From 1887 to 1890, he painted in Europe and exhibited at the Paris Salon. From then until his death in 1923, he lived in Berkeley on a large tract of land he purchased where he built a mission style studio. His works are in many California collections including the California Historical Society, the Oakland Museum, and the De Young Memorial Museum.

from the archives of AskART.com|

 

 

STUDIO BUILDING

2045 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA

BUILT IN 1905 BY FREDERICK H. DAKIN

Listed on the National Registerof Historic Places

The Studio Building is distinctive in downtown Berkeley because it is the only one with a tile mansard roof and rounded window bays. The window bays are made of metal and extend from the second to the fourth floors. The first-floor storefront bays were built as a series of alternating rounded and pointed arches, some of which have been covered. As a result, the window bays and mansard roof give the building a softer appearence than most of the buildings in downtown, which have flat facades.

The name "Studio Building," along with a mosaic tile picture of a palette and paint brushes, is set in the tile floor at the entrance.

The building was constructed by Frederick H. Dakin and built for his company which handled investments in gold mines and real estate, His son, Clarence Casebolt Dakin, and niece, Edna Deakin (one side of the family changed the spelling of their name), were practicing architects in Berkeley at the time of construction, but there is no record - of who designed the building. Bricks used for the foundation were manufactured by Dakin in Stege, California. In 1911 Dakin sold the building and moved to San Francisco. The Mason-McDuffie Real Estate Company occupied the ground floor until they built the building across the street in 1928, and many older pictures show the building with Mason-McDuffie signs on it. 

The fifth floor was designed as artist studios and included a gallery. In December 1906, the first art exhibit was held; it was sponsored by Frederick Dakin, Mrs. John Galen Howard, and Mrs. William Keith. Inhibitors were Frederick Dakin's brother, Edwin Deakin, William Keith, and Raymond Yelland. Building tenants included architect John Hudson Thomas and photographer Oscar Maurer. After the 1006 earthquake and fire Frederick H. Meyer moved his design studio from San Francisco to the Studio Building, where he founded the College of Arts and Crafts. Although the College moved after one year, the earliestinstructors taught in this building and includd Meyers, Perham W. nahl, Isabelle Percy West, and Xavier Martinez.

For years the building was a hotel; it was restored in the late 1970s.

(Landmark #23, 1978)

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