Charles Stuart

Charles Stuart F.S.A. (1838–1907) was a prolific English still life and landscape painter who exhibited widely throughout the British Isles. He was active from 1854 to 1904.

He was listed as two separate persons in the Royal Academy records, This was added to by the fact that he initially mainly painted still lifes. After 1871 this ceased completely and he painted mainly landscapes thereafter. The abrupt change is seen in a number of exhibition records of his work. These, along with the associated Gravesend work address, show clearly that only one artist was involved.

Life and family Charles Stuart was born in 1838 to William and Amelia Stuart, both artists. Other Stuart family members were also artists including his brother William who emigrated to Australia in 1859.

In 1860, Stuart exhibited a work entitled Fair and Fruitful Italy (and J. M. Bowkett) at the Royal Society of British Artists. Stuart was also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. An indication of financial and social success was the purchase of The Hermitage, 1 Cleve Road, West Hampstead in 1885. This was a newly built property with a huge galleried studio connected to the spacious house by a barrel-vaulted glasshouse.

Stuart's wife, Jane, died on 1 June 1891, while Stuart survived her by 16 years. He was buried with her at Kensal Green Cemetery. Half a century later he exhibited his last painting at the Royal Academy of Arts (Solemn Solitude), in 1904.