Strudwick was the son of William Strudwick (1808–1861) and Sarah Melhuish (1800–1862).[1][2] He attended St Saviour's Grammar School in Southwark. Disliking the idea of a business career, he took classes at the Royal Academy Schools in South Kensington, but was not regarded as a promising student.
Paintingedit
In the 1860s he was encouraged by a visitor, the Scottish genre painter, John Pettie, whose style he subsequently emulated. His depiction of the ballad of 'Auld Robin Gray', which was exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists in 1873, is an example of this period. His art style, however, developed in a new direction in the 1870s when he worked first as studio assistant to Spencer Stanhope and then to Edward Burne-Jones. In keeping with artists in his circle, he exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery and the New Gallery in London. Strudwick's studio was in Hammersmith, close to that of Burne-Jones and Thomas Matthews Rooke, who had also been an assistant to Burne-Jones. He married Harriet Reed and had a single daughter, Ethel (1880–1954), who later became High Mistress of St Paul's Girls' School from 1927 to 1948, and was appointed a CBE.[3][4]
His initial success as a painter came to an end when wealthy and influential patrons such as the Liverpool shipowners William Imrie and George Holt withdrew their support. His painting "When Sorrow comes in Summer Days, Roses Bloom in Vain" was left half finished in protest at the seemingly orchestrated collapse of his career.[5][6]
Styleedit
Strudwick's paintings were done in a blend of medieval and Renaissance styles, with meticulous attention to detail, especially in his treatment of draperies and accessories, and leading to a very small output. Some thirty of his paintings depict legendary and symbolic subjects, sometimes employing a lapidary technique from the Italian quattrocento. He employed rich, deep colours, faces clearly inspired by Burne-Jones and sumptuous drapery. His work was regularly slated by Frederic George Stephens, a failed painter become critic for the Athenaeum, who could find little positive to say.
Deathedit
His obituary in The Times described him as "a beautiful old man... [and] a charming personality, exceedingly kind to young artists."[7]
Notable worksedit
One of Strudwick's works, "Thy Music, faintly falling, dies away, Thy dear eyes dream that Love will live for aye" has in recent times had two celebrated owners - writer and broadcaster Sir Tim Rice in the 1970s, and in 1987, P.C. Withers of Reading, a leading authority on Strudwick. It was originally bought from the artist by the shipowner William Imrie of 'Holmstead', Mossley Hill in Liverpool. The picture's title is from a couplet by G.F. Bodley (1827–1907), the eminent architect who was closely associated with the later Pre-Raphaelite movement. Another painting, The Gentle Music of a Bygone Day, sold for £276,500 at a Christie's auction in 1993.[8]
Galleryedit
A Golden Thread 1885
Isabella circa 1886
Elaine 1891
Evensong, St. Cecilia 1897
Virgin and Child 1901
In the Golden Days 1907
When Sorrow comes to Summerday, Roses bloom in Vain circa 1910
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Melhuish Strudwick.
^. Strudwicke.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^"Artists: Strudwick John Melhuish". Geometry.Net. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^"John Melhuish Strudwick (1849-1935)". Myweb.tiscali.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^Hermes (28 September 2010). . Preraphaelitepaintings.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^. Artmagick.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^. Victorianweb.org. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^'Mr. J. M. Strudwick: The Pre-Raphaelite Tradition' [Obituary], The Times, 20 July 1937, p. 18.
john, melhuish, strudwick, 1849, clapham, london, july, 1937, hammersmith, british, raphaelite, painter, swallow, swallow, 1894, acrasia, 1888, contents, early, life, painting, style, death, notable, works, gallery, referencesearly, life, editstrudwick, willia. John Melhuish Strudwick 6 May 1849 in Clapham London 16 July 1937 in Hammersmith was a British Pre Raphaelite painter Oh Swallow Swallow 1894 Acrasia c 1888 Contents 1 Early life 2 Painting 3 Style 4 Death 5 Notable works 6 Gallery 7 ReferencesEarly life editStrudwick was the son of William Strudwick 1808 1861 and Sarah Melhuish 1800 1862 1 2 He attended St Saviour s Grammar School in Southwark Disliking the idea of a business career he took classes at the Royal Academy Schools in South Kensington but was not regarded as a promising student Painting editIn the 1860s he was encouraged by a visitor the Scottish genre painter John Pettie whose style he subsequently emulated His depiction of the ballad of Auld Robin Gray which was exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists in 1873 is an example of this period His art style however developed in a new direction in the 1870s when he worked first as studio assistant to Spencer Stanhope and then to Edward Burne Jones In keeping with artists in his circle he exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery and the New Gallery in London Strudwick s studio was in Hammersmith close to that of Burne Jones and Thomas Matthews Rooke who had also been an assistant to Burne Jones He married Harriet Reed and had a single daughter Ethel 1880 1954 who later became High Mistress of St Paul s Girls School from 1927 to 1948 and was appointed a CBE 3 4 His initial success as a painter came to an end when wealthy and influential patrons such as the Liverpool shipowners William Imrie and George Holt withdrew their support His painting When Sorrow comes in Summer Days Roses Bloom in Vain was left half finished in protest at the seemingly orchestrated collapse of his career 5 6 Style editStrudwick s paintings were done in a blend of medieval and Renaissance styles with meticulous attention to detail especially in his treatment of draperies and accessories and leading to a very small output Some thirty of his paintings depict legendary and symbolic subjects sometimes employing a lapidary technique from the Italian quattrocento He employed rich deep colours faces clearly inspired by Burne Jones and sumptuous drapery His work was regularly slated by Frederic George Stephens a failed painter become critic for the Athenaeum who could find little positive to say Death editHis obituary in The Times described him as a beautiful old man and a charming personality exceedingly kind to young artists 7 Notable works editOne of Strudwick s works Thy Music faintly falling dies away Thy dear eyes dream that Love will live for aye has in recent times had two celebrated owners writer and broadcaster Sir Tim Rice in the 1970s and in 1987 P C Withers of Reading a leading authority on Strudwick It was originally bought from the artist by the shipowner William Imrie of Holmstead Mossley Hill in Liverpool The picture s title is from a couplet by G F Bodley 1827 1907 the eminent architect who was closely associated with the later Pre Raphaelite movement Another painting The Gentle Music of a Bygone Day sold for 276 500 at a Christie s auction in 1993 8 Gallery edit nbsp A Golden Thread 1885 nbsp Isabella circa 1886 nbsp Elaine 1891 nbsp Evensong St Cecilia 1897 nbsp Virgin and Child 1901 nbsp In the Golden Days 1907 nbsp When Sorrow comes to Summerday Roses bloom in Vain circa 1910References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Melhuish Strudwick SARAH MELHUISH b 1800 ENG Strudwicke com Archived from the original on 22 March 2012 Retrieved 20 August 2012 Artists Strudwick John Melhuish Geometry Net Retrieved 20 August 2012 John Melhuish Strudwick 1849 1935 Myweb tiscali co uk Retrieved 20 August 2012 Hermes 28 September 2010 Pre Raphaelite Art John Melhuish Strudwick Thy Music faintly falling dies away Preraphaelitepaintings blogspot com Archived from the original on 7 October 2011 Retrieved 20 August 2012 John Melhuish Strudwick Biography and Image Gallery at ArtMagick Artmagick com Archived from the original on 30 January 2008 Retrieved 20 August 2012 John Melhuish Strudwick 1849 1937 An Overview Victorianweb org Archived from the original on 18 December 2011 Retrieved 20 August 2012 Mr J M Strudwick The Pre Raphaelite Tradition Obituary The Times 20 July 1937 p 18 John Melhuish Strudwick 1849 1937 Christie s Christies com Retrieved 20 August 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Melhuish Strudwick amp oldid 1214230936, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
