Arthur Elsley

Arthur John Elsley (1860–1952) was an English painter of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, famous for his idyllic genre scenes of playful children and their pets. He achieved great popularity during his life and much of his work appeared in calendars, magazines and books.

Life

Elsley was born in London, one of six children of John Elsley, coachman and amateur artist, and Emily Freer.

When only eleven years old, Arthur was turning out proficient animal studies made during frequent visits to the London Zoo in Regent's Park. At about this time his eyesight became permanently damaged by a bout of measles.

Elsley took up the post of probationer at the Royal Academy Schools in 1876. here he was influenced by Frederick Pickersgill (Keeper of the Royal Academy), Edward Armitage (Professor of Painting), John Marshal (Professor of Anatomy), and Henry Bowler (Professor of Perspective).

Currently Elsley's work can be seen at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum in Bournemouth, in the collections of "Hartlepool Museums and Heritage Service", at Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, Liverpool, Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and the "Royal Pavilion Art Gallery and Museum", Preston Manor, 194 Preston Road, Brighton.

Notable works

'The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington', 1891 - won a silver medal in the Crystal Palace exhibition. 'I'se Biggest', 1892 - reproduced as a popular print, selling so widely that it needed to be re-engraved 'Grandfather's Pet', 1892 - chosen by The Illustrated London News as their Christmas print for 1893 'The Invaders' - distributed as a print for Pear's Annual in 1915