Herbert James Draper

{"Id":98,"Name":"Herbert James Draper","Biography":"Herbert James Draper was born in London. He was educated at Bruce Castle before moving to the Royal Academy Schools, where he was awarded a gold medal and a travelling scholarship in 1889. In 1890 he travelled throughout Europe, spending time in Paris and Rome. Draper settled in London in 1891, and at about this time married Ida Williams\u0027 daughter of a magistrate - they had one daughter. He specialised in paintings depicting mythological events, not dissimilar to the subjects which attracted \u003Ca href=\u0022/asp/database/art.asp?aid=79\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003EJ. W. Waterhouse\u003C/a\u003E. His picture \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/asp/database/image.asp?id=14829\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003EThe Lament for Icarus\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/u\u003E, was purchased by the Chantry Bequest in 1898. In 1900 Draper was awarded a gold medal at The International Exhibition in Paris for \u003Cu\u003EIcarus\u003C/u\u003E. He exhibited at the RA each year from 1887 until shortly before his death. Draper also had a lucrative society portrait painting practice, his aristocratic sitters including the Duchess of Abercorn. Another area of activity was decorative work including, appropriately, the ceiling of the Drapers Hall.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDraper did not become even an ARA, which I find somewhat surprising, given his long association with the RA, and the quality of his work. He was though, a member of The Royal British Colonial Society, whose President for a number of years was \u003Ca href=\u0022/asp/database/art.asp?aid=238\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003EThomas Gotch\u003C/a\u003E. Draper\u0026rsquo;s paintings are in public galleries throughout Britain, South Africa, and Australia. In the mythological subject area his paintings include, as well as \u003Cu\u003ELament for Icarus\u003C/u\u003E, \u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/asp/database/image.asp?id=15719\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003EUlysses and the Sirens\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/u\u003E, \u003Cu\u003EThe Kelpie\u003C/u\u003E, and \u003Cu\u003EThe Vintage Morn\u003C/u\u003E. Herbert Draper had, in his lifetime, a considerable reputation, which declined rapidly, probably before his death. It is difficult to find much information about Draper the man, though it is a matter of record he attended the funeral of Waterhouse, his close neighbour, in 1917. His residence in St John\u0026rsquo;s Wood attests to his material success.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe Antique Collectors Club tell me that they will be publishing an art monograph about Draper in mid 2002. I look forward to it with interest. I will also be carrying out further research of my own.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cu\u003ESources:\u003C/u\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cli type=\u0022square\u0022\u003E\u003EVarious, including \u003Cu\u003EThe Last Romantics\u003C/u\u003E, published by Lund Humphries.\u003C/li\u003EThis book is quite simply a must have for any 19th century enthusiast of English art. It is well illustrated and written, and the short biographies of the artists are quite simply wonderful, and give more accurate information than many longer articles. A book I return to again and again. The strongest possible recommendation.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cu\u003EAcknowledgements:\u003C/u\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOur thanks go to Paul Ripley who gave his kind permission to reprint this article from his website, \u003Ca href=\u0022http://www.victorianartinbritain.co.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003EVictorian Art in Britain\u003C/a\u003E.\u003Cp\u003E","Awards":null,"HasAlbums":false,"HasPortraits":true,"HasRelationships":true,"HasArticles":false,"HasDepictedPlaces":false,"HasLetters":true,"HasLibraryItems":true,"HasProducts":true,"HasSignatures":false,"HasVideos":false,"HasMapLocations":true,"TotalArtworks":94}