Charles Holmes
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles John Holmes, KCVO
(1868, Preston, Lancashire – 1936, Kensington
, London
) was a British
painter
, art critic
and museum director. His writing on art combined theory with practice and he was an expert on the painting techniques of the Old Master
s, from whose example he had learned to draw and paint.
Holmes was the son of a clergyman, Charles Rivington Holmes, and Mary Susan Dickson. He attended Eton College
from 1883 and attained a scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford
in 1887.
From 1889 to 1903, Holmes worked as a publisher's and printer's assistant in London, and his experience in the field of publishing contributed to the early success of The Burlington Magazine
(founded 1903), which he co-edited with Robert Dell until 1909. From 1904 to 1910, he was Slade Professor of Fine Art
at Oxford University
. His stature as a landscape painter was acknowledged when he was admitted into the New English Art Club
in 1904, on the same day as John Singer Sargent
. He held one-man shows at the Carfax Gallery, Piccadilly, in 1909, 1911 and 1919. In the latter show he showed examples of his 'Industrial Landscapes'.
Upon the retirement of Lionel Cust
, Holmes was appointed the director of the National Portrait Gallery in 1909. In 1916 he was elected director of the National Gallery
, although a change in the constitution of the Gallery meant that Holmes was not given the absolute authority in the choice of purchases that his predecessors had enjoyed.
Holmes instead made it his priority to familiarise the general public with the contents of the Gallery, using his experience as a critic and in publishing to this end. He received a knighthood in 1921, the year of his retirement from the National Gallery.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(1868, Preston, Lancashire – 1936, Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, art critic
Art critic
An art critic is a person who specializes in evaluating art. Their written critiques, or reviews, are published in newspapers, magazines, books and on web sites...
and museum director. His writing on art combined theory with practice and he was an expert on the painting techniques of the Old Master
Old Master
"Old Master" is a term for a European painter of skill who worked before about 1800, or a painting by such an artist. An "old master print" is an original print made by an artist in the same period...
s, from whose example he had learned to draw and paint.
Holmes was the son of a clergyman, Charles Rivington Holmes, and Mary Susan Dickson. He attended Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
from 1883 and attained a scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
in 1887.
From 1889 to 1903, Holmes worked as a publisher's and printer's assistant in London, and his experience in the field of publishing contributed to the early success of The Burlington Magazine
The Burlington Magazine
The Burlington Magazine is a monthly academic journal that covers the fine and decorative arts. It is the longest running art journal in the English language and it is a charitable organisation since 1986. It was established in 1903 by a group of art historians and connoisseurs which included Roger...
(founded 1903), which he co-edited with Robert Dell until 1909. From 1904 to 1910, he was Slade Professor of Fine Art
Slade Professor of Fine Art
The Slade Professorship of Fine Art is the oldest professorship of art at the universities of Cambridge, Oxford and London.-History:The chairs were founded concurrently in 1869 by a bequest from the art collector and philanthropist Felix Slade, with studentships also created in the University of...
at Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. His stature as a landscape painter was acknowledged when he was admitted into the New English Art Club
New English Art Club
The New English Art Club was founded in London in 1885 as an alternate venue to the Royal Academy.-History:Young English artists returning from studying art in Paris mounted the first exhibition of the New English Art Club in April 1886...
in 1904, on the same day as John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent was an American artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Edwardian era luxury. During his career, he created roughly 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors, as well as countless sketches and charcoal drawings...
. He held one-man shows at the Carfax Gallery, Piccadilly, in 1909, 1911 and 1919. In the latter show he showed examples of his 'Industrial Landscapes'.
Upon the retirement of Lionel Cust
Lionel Cust
Sir Lionel Henry Cust, KCVO FSA was an English art historian and museum director. He was director of the National Portrait Gallery from 1895 to 1909 and co-edited The Burlington Magazine from 1909 to 1919....
, Holmes was appointed the director of the National Portrait Gallery in 1909. In 1916 he was elected director of the National Gallery
National gallery
The National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom.National Gallery may also refer to:*Armenia: National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan*Australia:**National Gallery of Australia, Canberra...
, although a change in the constitution of the Gallery meant that Holmes was not given the absolute authority in the choice of purchases that his predecessors had enjoyed.
Holmes instead made it his priority to familiarise the general public with the contents of the Gallery, using his experience as a critic and in publishing to this end. He received a knighthood in 1921, the year of his retirement from the National Gallery.