Henry Gustave Hiller (1864âÂÂ1946) was an artist based in Liverpool, England. He studied at the Manchester School of Art and is mainly known as a designer of painted gesso reliefs and stained glass.
Gustave Hiller was born in Manchester, the third child of Henry Hiller (1833 â 1913) and Sarah Ann Hiller (née Littlewood) (1833 â 1870). From an early age and throughout his life he was a keen naturalist with a particular interest in insects. During his time as a student at the Manchester School of Art, the Director was Walter Crane who influenced his work. Hiller first worked as the Head Designer for Reuben Bennett's Studio and several examples of this collaboration are now held at the Stained Glass Museum, Ely. In 1892, he married Ada Crippin and, in about 1904, he left Bennett's Studio to set up a studio of his own in central Liverpool where he made gesso reliefs and stained glass for secular and ecclesiastical settings, mainly for clients in the North West of England. On retirement in 1936, Hiller moved to Anglesey and pursued his interest in natural history, especially insects, spiders and algae, until his death in 1946.
HillerâÂÂs ecclesiastical stained glass was notable for its bright colours and bold, but intricate, designs (see Gallery). Designs were frequently biblical narratives with particular attention to accurate depictions of plants, birds and animals, reflecting his interest in natural history. Biological accuracy were sometimes enhanced by detailed overpainting of the stained glass. His secular works included several windows commissioned as memorials to the fallen of World War I and some commercial decorative work (see Locations of Stained Glass).
Hiller gave many talks to natural history societies including the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society and the Liverpool Naturalistsâ Field Club which he illustrated using lantern slides of his watercolours of specimens and watercolours of microscope slides. Many of these watercolours and drawings were purchased by the Liverpool Public Museums after HillerâÂÂs retirement and are now held by the World Museum Liverpool.
Hiller also maintained a keen interest in phycology. He collected, preserved and drew algal specimens, at least 68 sheets of which are stored at the National Museum Liverpool . His drawings of fresh specimens of algae are valuable in interpreting the structure of accompanying preserved specimens. Acccession numbers LIV 1974.38.
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