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Ernest Crofts

January 01, 1970

Ernest Crofts RA (15 September 1847 – 19 March 1911) was a British painter of historical and military scenes.

Memorial to Ernest Crofts in Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh

Biography edit

Born in Leeds on 15 September 1847, Ernest was son of John Crofts, Esq. of Adal, near Leeds, a Justice of the Peace, and grandson of the Rev. W. Crofts, B.D., Vicar of North Grimston, near Malton, Yorkshire. One of his maternal uncles was the Rev. William Carr, B.D. of Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire. His mother was Ellen Wordsworth, the daughter of a Leeds industrialist. Ernest studied at Rugby School, for several years, and then headed to Berlin where he developed his interest in art and decided upon a career as a painter. His first acquaintance with war was made in 1864 when he accompanied a Prussian doctor in the Schleswig-Holstein War, and the operations around Düppel.[1] His sister Ellen Wordsworth Crofts married Sir Francis Darwin and was the mother of poet Frances Cornford.

He returned to London and became a pupil under A. B. Clay, but was back in Germany a few years later, this time studying at the Düsseldorf school of painting in Europe, where he studied under the German military artist, Emil Hünten, himself an ex-pupil of Horace Vernet, and at the time military and historical painter to the Prussian emperor. Under Hünten, Crofts' talent as a military painter grew, and in 1874, he exhibited Retreat, representing an episode in the Franco-Prussian War during the Battle of Gravelotte, and in the same year, another scene from the same conflict, One touch of nature makes the whole world kin which won him the Crystal Palace prize medal. Both scenes were influenced by the artist's experience of witnessing some of the closing stages of the war, especially the battles of Weissenbourg, Wörth, and the siege of Strasbourg. While contributing regularly to the annual Royal Academy exhibition, he continued to live in Düsseldorf where he met his future wife.

 
Ligny by Ernest Crofts (1875)

In 1875, Crofts exhibited Ligny at the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) and at the International Exhibition in Philadelphia. The following year saw his picture representing The morning of the Battle of Waterloo which captured the dawn of the day with the tired and bespattered troops. One critic described it as follows: "Mr. Crofts' large canvas is admirable in the grouping of the soldiers on the morning of the battle; the day is breaking, on a weary, wounded and mud-stained company, some lying on the bare ground with knapsacks for pillows, some up and preparing for the march. The artillery are just on the move, and the note of preparation is sounding. The tone of the picture reminds us of the French school".[2] The artist's first notable pictures of the English Civil War were exhibited in 1877, one of which depicted Oliver Cromwell at Marston Moor. In the same year, he refused the offer of an appointment of military painter to the Prince of Roumania to be attached to his staff during the Russo-Turkish War.

Crofts was elected an Associate of the RA on 19 July 1878, the year that his picture, Wellington on his march from Quatre Bras to Waterloo was shown. In the same year, his painting entitled The Morning of the Battle of Waterloo was shown at the Paris International Exhibition; this depicted the French army retiring from the battlefield, with Napoleon leaving his carriage and preparing to mount his horse. The artist walked and sketched much of the area around the battlefield of Waterloo including La Haye Sainte, Hougoumont and La Belle Alliance. In 1896, he was elected a full academician of the Royal Academy, and his Diploma Work, a Civil War scene, was entitled To the Rescue. Two years later he succeeded Philip Calderon as keeper and trustee of the RA, which gave him accommodation at Burlington House. He was in effect chief director of the academy art schools as well as chief custodian of the Diploma Galley, which required "firmness, kindness and tact," according to one obituary, and Crofts was noted for his "pleasant manner, his good looks, and his amiability of character" which made him an ideal keeper.[3]

Besides historical scenes, Crofts did paint some contemporary military events. In 1901, for instance, the king commissioned him to paint a picture of the distribution of the war medals following the Boer War. Two years later, he painted a large scene of the funeral of Queen Victoria. One of his most ambitious works was the panel in the ambulatory of the Royal Exchange which portrayed Elizabeth I opening the first Royal Exchange in 1571. His trilogy of paintings chronicling the final moments, death and burial of Charles I were popular, but there was some disagreement over the representation of the block upon which the king knelt to be beheaded. Some argued about the accuracy, contending that the block of the period was a lower one, being just a few inches from the ground, and that to reach it, the king would have had to lie flat.

Crofts lived at 'The Green' which he helped to re-design, next to Blythburgh church in Suffolk. He had married a German lady, Elizabeth Wüsthofen of Düsseldorf, and they had one daughter. The artist died of pneumonia at Burlington House on 19 March 1911. His funeral service was held at St. James's Church, Piccadilly, on Thursday 23 March, followed by his burial at Kensal Green Cemetery. A sale of his remaining works was held at Christie, Manson & Woods on Monday 18 December 1911.[4]

While Crofts's pictures were popular in the 1870s and 1880s, the public lost its appetite for war paintings in the early years of the 20th century following the setbacks in South Africa. His obituary noted that "his taste was a little theatrical, and his talent not good enough to redeem it...it is safe to say that he will be best remembered, not by them, but by his good work at the Academy Schools and by his administrative services to the body of which he was a useful member...the exacting taste of the present day asks for something less conventional than his rather superficial battle scenes".[5] While the artist's pictures continue to be used as illustration in history and military books, today he is rarely mentioned as a significant historical artist.

Paintings (selection) edit

English Civil War edit

War of the Spanish Succession edit

War of the Austrian Succession edit

Napoleonic Wars edit

Post Waterloo edit

References edit

  1. ^ The London Figaro, 13 April 1889
  2. ^ Royal Academy annual report, 1880, pp. 351–352
  3. ^ obituary, The Times, 20 March 1911
  4. ^ Catalogue of Remaining Works of Ernest Crofts, R.A. deceased.... London, Christie, Manson & Woods, 1911
  5. ^ obituary, ibid

Works about edit

  • Chester, Austin, "The Art of Mr. Ernest Crofts, R.A.," – Windsor Magazine, March 1909, pp. 455–468.
  • Harrington, Peter. (1993). British Artists and War: The Face of Battle in Paintings and Prints, 1700–1914. London: Greenhill.
  • K., P. G., "Ernest Crofts (1847–1911)," in Dictionary of National Biography, page 444.
  • Spielmann, M.H., "Battle-Painting and Mr. Ernest Crofts, R.A.'" – Cassell's Magazine, Dec. 1901-May, 1902, pp. 421–429.

External links edit

  • 17 artworks by or after Ernest Crofts at the Art UK site
  • Ernest Crofts at Find a Grave
  • Short biography
  • Profile on Royal Academy of Arts Collections

January 01, 1970
ernest, crofts, september, 1847, march, 1911, british, painter, historical, military, scenes, memorial, holy, trinity, church, blythburgh, contents, biography, paintings, selection, english, civil, spanish, succession, austrian, succession, napoleonic, wars, p. Ernest Crofts RA 15 September 1847 19 March 1911 was a British painter of historical and military scenes Memorial to Ernest Crofts in Holy Trinity Church Blythburgh Contents 1 Biography 2 Paintings selection 2 1 English Civil War 2 2 War of the Spanish Succession 2 3 War of the Austrian Succession 2 4 Napoleonic Wars 2 5 Post Waterloo 3 References 4 Works about 5 External linksBiography editBorn in Leeds on 15 September 1847 Ernest was son of John Crofts Esq of Adal near Leeds a Justice of the Peace and grandson of the Rev W Crofts B D Vicar of North Grimston near Malton Yorkshire One of his maternal uncles was the Rev William Carr B D of Bolton Abbey Yorkshire His mother was Ellen Wordsworth the daughter of a Leeds industrialist Ernest studied at Rugby School for several years and then headed to Berlin where he developed his interest in art and decided upon a career as a painter His first acquaintance with war was made in 1864 when he accompanied a Prussian doctor in the Schleswig Holstein War and the operations around Duppel 1 His sister Ellen Wordsworth Crofts married Sir Francis Darwin and was the mother of poet Frances Cornford He returned to London and became a pupil under A B Clay but was back in Germany a few years later this time studying at the Dusseldorf school of painting in Europe where he studied under the German military artist Emil Hunten himself an ex pupil of Horace Vernet and at the time military and historical painter to the Prussian emperor Under Hunten Crofts talent as a military painter grew and in 1874 he exhibited Retreat representing an episode in the Franco Prussian War during the Battle of Gravelotte and in the same year another scene from the same conflict One touch of nature makes the whole world kin which won him the Crystal Palace prize medal Both scenes were influenced by the artist s experience of witnessing some of the closing stages of the war especially the battles of Weissenbourg Worth and the siege of Strasbourg While contributing regularly to the annual Royal Academy exhibition he continued to live in Dusseldorf where he met his future wife nbsp Ligny by Ernest Crofts 1875 In 1875 Crofts exhibited Ligny at the Royal Academy of Arts RA and at the International Exhibition in Philadelphia The following year saw his picture representing The morning of the Battle of Waterloo which captured the dawn of the day with the tired and bespattered troops One critic described it as follows Mr Crofts large canvas is admirable in the grouping of the soldiers on the morning of the battle the day is breaking on a weary wounded and mud stained company some lying on the bare ground with knapsacks for pillows some up and preparing for the march The artillery are just on the move and the note of preparation is sounding The tone of the picture reminds us of the French school 2 The artist s first notable pictures of the English Civil War were exhibited in 1877 one of which depicted Oliver Cromwell at Marston Moor In the same year he refused the offer of an appointment of military painter to the Prince of Roumania to be attached to his staff during the Russo Turkish War Crofts was elected an Associate of the RA on 19 July 1878 the year that his picture Wellington on his march from Quatre Bras to Waterloo was shown In the same year his painting entitled The Morning of the Battle of Waterloo was shown at the Paris International Exhibition this depicted the French army retiring from the battlefield with Napoleon leaving his carriage and preparing to mount his horse The artist walked and sketched much of the area around the battlefield of Waterloo including La Haye Sainte Hougoumont and La Belle Alliance In 1896 he was elected a full academician of the Royal Academy and his Diploma Work a Civil War scene was entitled To the Rescue Two years later he succeeded Philip Calderon as keeper and trustee of the RA which gave him accommodation at Burlington House He was in effect chief director of the academy art schools as well as chief custodian of the Diploma Galley which required firmness kindness and tact according to one obituary and Crofts was noted for his pleasant manner his good looks and his amiability of character which made him an ideal keeper 3 Besides historical scenes Crofts did paint some contemporary military events In 1901 for instance the king commissioned him to paint a picture of the distribution of the war medals following the Boer War Two years later he painted a large scene of the funeral of Queen Victoria One of his most ambitious works was the panel in the ambulatory of the Royal Exchange which portrayed Elizabeth I opening the first Royal Exchange in 1571 His trilogy of paintings chronicling the final moments death and burial of Charles I were popular but there was some disagreement over the representation of the block upon which the king knelt to be beheaded Some argued about the accuracy contending that the block of the period was a lower one being just a few inches from the ground and that to reach it the king would have had to lie flat Crofts lived at The Green which he helped to re design next to Blythburgh church in Suffolk He had married a German lady Elizabeth Wusthofen of Dusseldorf and they had one daughter The artist died of pneumonia at Burlington House on 19 March 1911 His funeral service was held at St James s Church Piccadilly on Thursday 23 March followed by his burial at Kensal Green Cemetery A sale of his remaining works was held at Christie Manson amp Woods on Monday 18 December 1911 4 While Crofts s pictures were popular in the 1870s and 1880s the public lost its appetite for war paintings in the early years of the 20th century following the setbacks in South Africa His obituary noted that his taste was a little theatrical and his talent not good enough to redeem it it is safe to say that he will be best remembered not by them but by his good work at the Academy Schools and by his administrative services to the body of which he was a useful member the exacting taste of the present day asks for something less conventional than his rather superficial battle scenes 5 While the artist s pictures continue to be used as illustration in history and military books today he is rarely mentioned as a significant historical artist Paintings selection editAfter Flodden King James IV of Scotland mounted amp mortally wounded 1877 The Gunpowder Plot 1892 Wallenstein A Scene of the Thirty Years War 1884 Leeds Art Gallery The Opening the first Royal Exchange by Queen Elizabeth 23 January 1570 1899 Mural at the Royal Exchange London English Civil War edit Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Marston Moor 1877 Prince Rupert and Staff 1875 Ipswich Museums and Art Galleries Ironsides returning from sacking a Cavalier s House 1877 Charles I on his way to Execution 1883 At the Sign of the Blue Boar Holborn Cromwell questioning a prisoner 1883 Dudley Museum and Art Gallery The return from a raid 1886 The Boscobel Oak 1889 Hampden riding away from Chalgrove Field 1889 Whitehall January 30 1649 1890 A Parliamentary Convoy surprised by Royalists 1891 Charles I at Battle of Edgehill 1892 Prince Rupert 1893 Roundheads Victorious 1894 Cromwell questioning a Prisoner 1895 Mappin Art Gallery Sheffield To the Rescue An Episode of the Civil War Diploma Work 1896 Royal Academy of Art Charles II at Whiteladies after the Battle of Worcester 1898 Oliver Cromwell at the storming of Basing House 1900 Leeds Art Gallery The Surrender of Donnington Castle 1903 Prince Rupert and his staff at Marston Moor 1903 Funeral of King Charles I St George s Chapel Windsor 1907 The surrender of the City of York to the Roundheads 1908 Cromwell after the Battle of Marston Moor 1909 Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum Burnley William III at Landen War of the Spanish Succession edit Marlborough at the head of his troops Leading the way Cavalry on the road Marlborough after the Battle of Ramillies War of the Austrian Succession edit George II at Dettingen Napoleonic Wars edit Ligny With might unquestion d power to save etc 1875 On the morning of the Battle of Waterloo 1876 Mappin Art Gallery Sheffield Wellington s march from Quatre Bras to Waterloo 1876 Mappin Art Gallery Sheffield On the evening of the Battle of Waterloo 1879 Walker Art Gallery Liverpool A pause in the attack Hougoumont Waterloo 1881 Cavalry and Guards Club London A pause in the attack Hougoumont Waterloo 1882 At the Farm of Mont St Jean 1882 Napoleon leaving Moscow 1887 The morning of Waterloo Napoleon s headquarters 1891 Napoleon s last grand attack at Waterloo 1895 The Capture of a French Battery by the 52nd Regiment at Waterloo 1896 Royal Green Jackets Rifles Museum The attack on the gatehouse of the chateau of Hougoumont 1897 Near La Belle Alliance at dawn June 18th 1815 1906 Post Waterloo edit Charge of the 3rd King s Own Light Dragoons Moodkee 1893 Queen s Own Hussars A Retreat Episode in the German French War 1874 1870 An incident in the Franco Prussian War 1874 One touch of nature makes the whole world kin Prussian soldier giving refreshment to wounded Frenchman 1870 1873 References edit The London Figaro 13 April 1889 Royal Academy annual report 1880 pp 351 352 obituary The Times 20 March 1911 Catalogue of Remaining Works of Ernest Crofts R A deceased London Christie Manson amp Woods 1911 obituary ibidWorks about editChester Austin The Art of Mr Ernest Crofts R A Windsor Magazine March 1909 pp 455 468 Harrington Peter 1993 British Artists and War The Face of Battle in Paintings and Prints 1700 1914 London Greenhill K P G Ernest Crofts 1847 1911 in Dictionary of National Biography page 444 Spielmann M H Battle Painting and Mr Ernest Crofts R A Cassell s Magazine Dec 1901 May 1902 pp 421 429 External links edit17 artworks by or after Ernest Crofts at the Art UK site Ernest Crofts at Find a Grave Short biography Profile on Royal Academy of Arts Collections Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ernest Crofts amp oldid 1107625112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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