John Collier

Artist

John Collier

Birth

January 27, 1850

Birthplace

London

Death

April 11, 1934

Place of Death

London

Gender

Male

Nationality

Britain

Movement

Classicism

Media

painter

John Collier, who was born on 27th January 1850, was the second son of the eminent judge who afterwards became Lord Monkswell. After four years at Eton he went abroad to study French and German with the intention of joining the Diplomatic Service, but went instead to the City. His father did not oppose his desire to become a painter, but gave him an introduction to Alma-Tadema [1836-1912], who however could not take him as a pupil, so he went instead to the Slade School, afterwards studying in Paris and Munich. During the war he did good service as a temporary clerk at the Foreign Office. He was Vice-President of the Society of Portrait Painters whose Honorary Treasurer Mr G. Spencer Watson died on the same day. He was also the author of A Manual of Oil Painting, and A Primer of Art. He also gave much time to causes such as ‘Rationalism and Divorce.’ A thin bearded man he gave the impression of polite independence – a sort of quiet ruthlessness in personal intercourse and character which was reflected in his painting. His first marriage was to Marian, daughter of Professor Huxley, she died shortly after the birth of their only daughter Joyce, wife of Mr Drysdale Kilburn. In 1893 he married his first wife’s sister Ethel in Norway, the marrige resulting in two children, Mr Laurance Collier who is in the Diplomatic Service, and Joan the wife of Brigadier General F.A. Buzzard, being regularised in this country after The Deceased Wife’s Sister Act of 1907.