Edward John Poynter was a painter who trained in London and Paris, and established his fame with his immense painting, Israel in Egypt, 1867. He worked on a number of decorative schemes, and his paintings of mythological subjects won him a considerable contemporary reputation. Appointed the first Slade Professor in 1871, and director of art at South Kensington, 1875, Poynter was influential in introducing French principles of art teaching into England. He later served as Director of the National Gallery, 1894-1904, and President of the Royal Academy, 1896-1918. Reference: The National Portrait Gallery
Portrait of Sir Edward John Poynter 1877 Alphonse Legros Legros’ portrait of fellow artist Poynter was published in the art periodical “The Portfolio,” in January 1877. The publication and its editor, Philip Gilbert Hamerton (1834–1894), actively promoted printmaking, especially etching. Poynter was the first Slade Professor of Fine Art at University College London from 1871 to 1875. Legros succeeded him as Slade Professor on his direct recommendation and became one of the art school’s most influential instructors, teaching there for over fifteen years. Poynter himself later had a number of administrative roles including president of the Royal Academy of Arts and director of the National Gallery, London.
Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Sir Edward John Poynter, Bart., P.R.A., R.W.S., 1836-1919 WINTER CHERRIES, CHRISTMAS ROSES Quantity: 2 each signed with monogram and dated 1881 and inscribed with the titles in painted cartouches watercolour with gold paint and bodycolour, a pair, unframed each 17×11.5cm.; 6¾4¼in.
This pair of watercolours are similar in style to a set of playing cards designed by Poynter in the later 1870s for Messrs de la Rue (Victoria and Albert Museum) and a design made for an advertisment for the Guardian and Life Assurance Company in 1886. During the 1860s and 1870s Poynter had worked sporadically upon a set of decorative tiles for the Refreshment Rooms of the Victoria and Albert Museum depicting female personifications of the seasons. The first set of designs had been submitted in 1866 and proved so successful that in 1877 Poynter was asked to produce a further group of designs. It is probable that the present pictures relate to a later commission for the scheme. The charming designs are redolent of the Aesthetic movement with the combination of oriental, classical and Victorian motifs and the interest in foliate decoration and female beauty.
Sold for 2,400 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2005
Edward Poynter was a painter and a good draughtsman. The South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) commissioned him to provide designs for large figure panels and other decorations for the Dutch Kitchen or Grill Room (this is now called the Poynter Room). His lively drawing of the human figure gives a sense of life and movement to the conventional series of the Twelve Months. Students in the women’s section of the School of Design at South Kensington painted the tile panels.
The Refreshment Rooms were opened during 1868. They consisted of three rooms: the central room, now known as the Gamble Room, which has a semi-circular northern side, following the plan of the Lecture Theatre above it; and a smaller, square room on either side, the Green Dining Room to the west and the Grill Room to the east. Poynter designed the whole of this last room, now known as the Poynter Room.
Poynter was Director of the National Art Training School and women artists from the school painted his designs onto blank tiles supplied by Minton, the ceramic manufacturer. Henry Scott, a Royal Engineer officer employed on building the new Museum, compiled a list of the women he was employing as porcelain painters. They were Amy E. Black, Miss Walker, Miss Judd, Miss Earle, Miss Hall, Miss Cambridge, who were all paid at the rate of 6d an hour, except Amy Black who received 9d.
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
Design for the Guardian Fire and Life Assurance Company signed with monogram and dated ’18 EJP 86′ (lower right) and inscribed ‘HEAD OFFICE/11 LOMBARD STREET LONDON GUARDIAN/FIRE AND LIFE/ASSURANCE/COMPANY’ (lower centre) ‘TOTAL/FUNDS/£3,900,000’ ‘ANNUAL/INCOME/£758,000’ (lower left and right respectively) pencil and watercolour, heightened with bodycolour 24 x 15 7/8 in. (61 x 40.5 cm.)
As far as it has been possible to establish the present watercolour is unique example in Poyntor’s oeuvre of him undertaking a commercial commission of this type. In 1893 he designed the border of the Queen’s letter to the nation announcing the death of the Duke of Clarence and in 1894 he was a successful competitor in the designs for the new coinage, models for the florin and shilling being accepted.
Sold for GBP 6,572 at Christie’s in 2003
