Life
Horsley was born in London, the son of William Horsley, the musician, and grand-nephew of Sir Augustus Callcott. His sister Mary Elizabeth Horsley wed the famous British engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1836.
Horsley marries Elvira Walter in 1846 with whom he has three sons Edward (1848), Frank (1849) and Harry (1850), Elvira passes away of consumption in 1852 followed by the deaths of Edward and Harry in 1854 and Frank in 1857 due to scarlet fever. Horsley remarries to Rosamund Haden who comes from a from a family of distinguished surgeons, her father Charles Haden had a practice in Sloan Street and her brother Francis Seymour Haden was a surgeon and etcher that found the Royal Society of Painters, Etchers and Engravers in 1880. Rosamund gives birth to Walter (1855), Hugh (1856) and Victor (1857). Gerald grows up to be an architect, Walter an artist also studying at the RA Schools and Victor a surgeon. Sir Victor Horsley (born 1857), became famous as a surgeon and neuropathologist, and a prominent supporter of the cause of experimental research. Horsley and Rosamund had four more children: Emma (1858), Fanny (1862), Gerald (1862) and Rosamund (1864), losing Hugh and Emma to scarlet fever.
After his wedding to Rosamund in 1854 Horsley and his new wife tours the Midlands for five months to establish contacts with wealthy industrialists for portrait commissions. Horsley moves into 'Willesley', his house in Cranbrook in 1861, joining the Cranbrook Colony; whilst maintaining a home in London. The architect Richard Shaw adds "...tall chimneys and cosy 'inglenooks.'" in the Jacobean style to 'Willesley'.
Horsely was rector and treasurer of the Royal Academy from 1875 to 1890 and 1882 to 1897 respectively earning himself the nick name 'Clothes-Horsley' as disagreed with nude life models.
Read more about this topic: John Callcott Horsley
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