Career
Horsley's paintings were largely of historical subjects set in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, influenced by the Dutch masters: Pieter de Hooch and Vermeer.The best known of these being "Malvolio", "L'Allegro and il Penseroso" (painted for the Prince Consort), "Le Jour des Morts" and "A Scene from Don Quixote".
As a young artist Horsley was patronised by the collector John Sheepshanks, who buys two of Horsley's paintings: ''The Rival Performers (1839), and ''Youth and Age (1839); both of which are now part of the V&A collection.
In 1843 his cartoon (preliminary drawing) of "St Augustine Preaching" won a prize in the competition to provide interior decorations for Palace of Westminster. This led to his being selected in 1844 he was as one of the six painters commissioned to execute frescoes there. He painted "Religion" (1845) in the House of Lords, "Henry V assuming the Crown" and "Satan touched by Ithuriel's Spear while whispering evil dreams to Eve". In 1864 he became a Royal Academician (RA), and in 1882 was elected treasurer, a post which he held until 1897, when he resigned and became a "retired Academician".
Horsley designed the first ever Christmas card, commissioned by Henry Cole. It caused some controversy because it depicted a small child drinking wine. He also designed the Horsley envelope, a pre-paid envelope that was the precursor to the postage stamp.
Horsley had much to do with organizing the winter exhibitions of "Old Masters" at Burlington House after 1870. When, during the 1880s, the example of the French Salon began to affect the Academy exhibitors, and paintings of the nude became the fashion, he protested against the innovation, and his attitude caused Punch to give him the sobriquet of "Mr J. C(lothes) Horsley" (a pun on clothes horse).
In 1856 Horsley was photographed at "The Photographed Institute" by Robert Howlett, as part of a series of portraits of "fine artists". The picture was among a group exhibited at the Art Treasures Exhibition in Manchester in 1857.
Horsley was a member of the London-based Etching Club contributing illustrations to editions of "The Deserted Village" (Oliver Goldsmith and "Songs of Shakespeare". He also illustrated a number of other books including "Little Princes" by Eliza Slater (London: Henry G. Bohn, 1890).
Read more about this topic: John Callcott Horsley
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