James Hayllar
Encyclopedia
James Hayllar was an English
genre
, portrait
and landscape painter.
in Sussex
(now West Sussex
), and received his training in art at Cary's art academy
in London
; he painted Cary's portrait in 1851. He went on to study at the Royal Academy
.
Hayllar travelled in Italy
from 1851-53. He was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy from 1850-98, and also showed work at the British Institution
and the Royal Society of British Artists
(RBA) - of which he was a member. He first became known as a portrait painter but later turned his brush to genre art, often featuring pretty young girls (see illustration); his work became very popular. With George Dunlop Leslie
(who also lived in Wallingford at the same time), he painted a large portrait of Queen Victoria to celebrate her Golden Jubillee in 1887 - the painting now hangs in Wallingford Town Hall.
He married Edith Phoebe Cavell (1827-1899), the aunt of Edith Cavell
- the famous British nurse who was to be shot by the Germans for "treason" during World War I
. They lived at a house called "Castle Priory" in Wallingford on the River Thames
in Berkshire
(now Oxfordshire
) from 1875-1899; scenes from village life in the area often featured in his work there. The couple went on to have 9 children, of whom four became recognised artists (see below). After the death of his wife in 1899, he moved to Bournemouth
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
genre
Genre painting
Genre works, also called genre scenes or genre views, are pictorial representations in any of various media that represent scenes or events from everyday life, such as markets, domestic settings, interiors, parties, inn scenes, and street scenes. Such representations may be realistic, imagined, or...
, portrait
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
and landscape painter.
Life and work
Hayllar was born in ChichesterChichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
(now West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
), and received his training in art at Cary's art academy
Francis Stephen Cary
Francis Stephen Cary was an English painter and art-teacher, who succeeded Henry Sass as the head of Sass's art academy.-Life and work:...
in 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...
; he painted Cary's portrait in 1851. He went on to study at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
.
Hayllar travelled in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
from 1851-53. He was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy from 1850-98, and also showed work at the British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
and the Royal Society of British Artists
Royal Society of British Artists
The Royal Society of British Artists is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy.-History:...
(RBA) - of which he was a member. He first became known as a portrait painter but later turned his brush to genre art, often featuring pretty young girls (see illustration); his work became very popular. With George Dunlop Leslie
George Dunlop Leslie
George Dunlop Leslie RA was an English genre painter, author and illustrator.-Life and work:Leslie was born in London, the son of notable genre painter Charles Robert Leslie, R.A. His uncle Robert Leslie was a marine artist. He studied art first at "Cary's art academy", then from 1854 at the...
(who also lived in Wallingford at the same time), he painted a large portrait of Queen Victoria to celebrate her Golden Jubillee in 1887 - the painting now hangs in Wallingford Town Hall.
He married Edith Phoebe Cavell (1827-1899), the aunt of Edith Cavell
Edith Cavell
Edith Louisa Cavell was a British nurse and spy. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from all sides without distinction and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during World War I, for which she was arrested...
- the famous British nurse who was to be shot by the Germans for "treason" during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. They lived at a house called "Castle Priory" in Wallingford on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
(now Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
) from 1875-1899; scenes from village life in the area often featured in his work there. The couple went on to have 9 children, of whom four became recognised artists (see below). After the death of his wife in 1899, he moved to Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
.
Family
Hayllar had four sons and five daughters, four of whom, Edith Hayllar (1860-1948), Jessica Hayllar (1858-1940), Mary Hayllar (1863 - c. 1950), and Kate Hayllar (fl. 1883-1900), became notable artists in their own right; all received their training from their father and exhibited at the Royal Academy.Further reading
- Wood, Christopher. Victorian Painters, the text (Antique Collectors' Club, 1995) p. 235 ff.
- Wilder, Anthony. Victorian artists of Wallingford: A Tale of Two Dynasties - The Hayllar & Leslie Families (Pie Powder Press, 2006).
External links
- James Hayllar online (Artcyclopedia)
- James Hayllar on Artnet
- The Centre of Attration (Oil on cavas, 1875 - Lady Lever Art GalleryLady Lever Art GalleryThe Lady Lever Art Gallery was founded in 1922 by Sunlight Soap magnate, William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme, and dedicated to the memory of his wife....
) - Works by James Hayllar (Children in art history)
- Granville Sharp, The Abolitionist, Rescuing a Slave from The Hands of His Master (Oil on Canvas, 1864 - V&A, London)
- Works by James Hayllar (The Athenaeum)
- In the hayfield (Oil on canvas, 1884 - Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
) - A Fly fisherman (Oil on board, 1879 - Christie's)