View source for Edward Poynter

{{Short description|British artist (1836–1919)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name             = Edward Poynter
| image            = Edward J Poynter, by Alphonse Legros.jpg
| image_upright    = 1
| caption          = ''Edward Poynter'', 1877 ([[Alphonse Legros]])
| birth_name       = Edward John Poynter
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|1836|03|20|df=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Paris]], [[July Monarchy|France]]
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|1919|07|26|1836|03|20|df=y}}
| death_place      = [[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
| nationality      = [[British people|British]]
| education        = [[Brighton College]]<br>[[Ipswich School]]
| occupation       = [[Painter]], [[designer]], and [[Drawing|draughtsman]]
| known_for        = 
| notable_works    = 
| style            = 
| movement         = 
| spouse           = [[MacDonald sisters|Agnes MacDonald]]
| children         = 3
}}

'''Sir Edward John Poynter, 1st Baronet''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCVO|PRA}} (20 March 1836{{snd}}26 July 1919) was an [[English people|English]] [[painter]], [[designer]], and [[Drawing|draughtsman]], who served as President of the [[Royal Academy]].

==Life==
Poynter was the son of architect [[Ambrose Poynter]]. He was born in Paris, France, though his parents returned to Britain soon after his birth. He was educated at [[Brighton College]] and [[Ipswich School]], but left school early for reasons of ill health, spending winters in [[Madeira]] and Rome. In 1853, he met [[Frederick Leighton]] in Rome, who made a great impression on the 17-year-old Poynter.  On his return to London he studied at [[James Mathews Leigh|Leigh]]'s [[Heatherley School of Fine Art|Academy]] in Newman Street and the Royal Academy Schools, before going to Paris to study in the studio of the [[Classicist style|classicist]] painter [[Charles Gleyre]] where [[James McNeill Whistler]] and [[George du Maurier]] were fellow-students.

In 1866 Poynter married the famous beauty [[MacDonald sisters|Agnes MacDonald]], daughter of the Rev. G. B. MacDonald of Wolverhampton, and they had three children. Her sister [[Georgiana Burne-Jones|Georgiana]] married the artist [[Edward Burne-Jones]]; her sister [[MacDonald sisters|Alice]] was the mother of writer [[Rudyard Kipling]]; and her sister [[MacDonald sisters|Louisa]] was the mother of three-times [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] [[Stanley Baldwin]].

Poynter's sister [[Clara Bell]] became a noted translator of literary and scientific works.

==Career==
[[File:Edward John Poynter by J. P. Mayall.jpg|left|thumb|[https://library.nga.gov/permalink/01NGA_INST/1p5jkvq/alma991625753804896 Poynter by J. P. Mayall] from ''Artists at Home'', published 1884, [https://www.nga.gov/research/library/imagecollections.html Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library], Washington, DC]]
He became best known for his large historical paintings such as ''Israel in Egypt'' (1867; [[Guildhall Art Gallery]], London), followed by ''St George for England'' (1869), a mosaic for the Central Lobby of the [[Palace of Westminster]], depicting [[Saint George and the Dragon|St George and the Dragon]]<ref>Jarrold Publishing, Norwich. Palace of Westminster Collection</ref> and perhaps culminating with ''[[The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon]]'' (1884&ndash;90; [[Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney]]). He was admitted as an associate of the [[Royal Academy]] in 1869.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56555883|title= The Register, Adelaide, June 27, 1902|newspaper= Register|date= 27 June 1902|publisher= Trove|access-date = 21 August 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Sir Edward John Poynter - The visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon - Google Art ProjectFXD.jpg|thumb|''[[The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon]]'', 1890]]

Poynter held a number of official posts: he was the first [[Slade Professor]] at [[University College London]] from 1871 to 1875, principal of the [[National Art Training School]] from 1875 to 1881 and director of the [[National Gallery, London|National Gallery]] from 1894 to 1904 (overseeing the opening of the [[Tate Gallery]]). He became a full [[Royal Academician]] in 1876. In 1896, on the death of [[John Everett Millais|Sir John Millais]], Poynter was elected President of the Academy.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} He received a [[Knight Bachelor|knighthood]] in the same year and an [[honorary degree]] from [[Cambridge University]] in 1898.<ref>{{acad|id=PNTR898SE|name=Poynter, Edward John}}</ref> It was announced that he would receive a [[baronetcy]] in the [[1902 Coronation Honours]] list published on 26 June 1902 for the (subsequently postponed) coronation of [[King Edward VII]],<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Coronation Honours |date=26 June 1902 |page=5 |issue=36804}}</ref> and on 24 July 1902 he was created a Baronet, of Albert Gate, in the city of Westminster, in the county of London.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27457 |date=25 July 1902 |page=4738 }}</ref>

Poynter's old school, [[Brighton College]], held an exhibition of Poynter's paintings and drawings entitled ''Life at Arms Length'' in its Burstow Gallery in November–December 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Edward John Poynter (Brighton College 1849-50) |url=https://www.oldbrightonians.com/news/notable-obs/art/1172-sir-edward-john-poynter-brighton-college-1849-1850.html |access-date=31 July 2022 |website=Old Brightonians - The Alumni of Brighton College |language=en-gb |archive-date=31 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731110244/https://www.oldbrightonians.com/news/notable-obs/art/1172-sir-edward-john-poynter-brighton-college-1849-1850.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Works==
===Paintings===
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="400" heights="200">
File:At low tide.jpg|''At Low Tide''
File:The Siren by Edward John Poynter (1864).jpg|''The Siren'' (1864)
File:Sir Edward John Poynter  — Cave of the Storm Nymphs.jpg|''[[The Cave of the Storm Nymphs]]'' (1903; Private collection)
File:Edward John Poynter - Psyche in the Temple of Love - Google Art Project.jpg|''Psyche in the Temple of Love''
File:Edward John Poynter - Faithful Unto Death - Google Art Project.jpg|''[[Faithful Unto Death (painting)|Faithful Unto Death]]'', 1865
File:1869 Edward Poynter - Andromeda.jpg|''[[Andromeda (painting)|Andromeda]]'', Edward Poynter, 1869
File:Edward Poynter - The Fortune Teller.jpg|''[[The Fortune Teller (Poynter)|The Fortune Teller]]'' (1877)
File:Lillie Langtry00.jpg|Portrait of [[Lillie Langtry]], 1878
File:Zenobia Captive.jpeg|''Zenobia Captive'', 1878
File:Edward John Poynter (1836-1919) - Diadumenè - 77-1969 - Royal Albert Memorial Museum ^ Art Gallery.jpg|''[[Diadumenè]]'' (1884)
File:Corner of the marketplace, by Edward John Poynter.jpg|''Corner of the Marketplace'' (1887)
File:Edward John Poynter (1836-1919) - On the Temple Steps - BURGM-paoil173 - Towneley Hall Art Gallery And Museum.jpg|''On the Temple Steps'' (1889)
</gallery>

<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="160">
File:Pea Blossoms.jpg|''Pea Blossoms''
File:1867 Edward Poynter - Israel in Egypt.jpg|''Israel in Egypt'' (1867)
File:Catapulta by Edward Poynter.jpg|''Catapulta''
</gallery>

<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="175">
File:Edward John Poynter - Barine.jpg|''Barine'' (1894)
File:Water Babies).jpg|''[[Water Babies (painting)|Water Babies]]'' (1900)
File:Edward John Poynter - The Vision of Endymion, 1902.jpg| ''[[The Vision of Endymion]]'' (1902)
File:Edward John Poynter (1836-1919) - A Visit to Aesculapius - N01586 - National Gallery.jpg|''[[A Visit to Aesculapius]]'' (1880)
File:Wild Blossoms.jpg|''Wild Blossoms'' (c. 1880)
File:The Ides of March Edward John Poynter (1836–1919).jpg|''[[The Ides of March (painting)|The Ides of March]]'' (1883)
File:Edward John Poynter (1836-1919) - Corner of the Market Place - VIS.LI.757 - Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust.jpg|''Corner of the Market Place'' (1887)
File:Sir Edward John Poynter - The Ionian Dance Motus doceri gaudet Ionicos, Matura virgo, et fingitur artibus.jpg|''The Ionian Dance'' (1895)
File:Sir Edward John Poynter — Cave of the Storm Nymphs.jpg|''Cave of the Storm Nymphs'' (1903)
File:Edward John Poynter (1836-1919) - The Bells of Saint Mark's, Venice - 1916P30 - Birmingham Museums Trust.jpg|''The Bells of Saint Mark's Venice'' (1903)
</gallery>

===Stained glass===

Early in his career, Poynter designed some works 
in stained glass.<ref>Brooks, Alan. The Stained Glass Designs of Sir Edward Poynter.  Victorian Society Annual, 1996, pp 27–36.</ref>  Parts of the original designs were sometimes re-used in later windows.

[[File:Six scenes from the life of Dorcas by Edward Poynter.png|thumb|Stained-glass window<ref>Cornish Stained Glass, St Ia, St Ives, Cornwall, [https://www.cornishstainedglass.org.uk/mgsdb/window.xhtml?churchid=234&locid=195 Tower west]</ref> designed by Edward Poynter, showing six scenes from the life of Dorcas, on the west side of the tower of [[St Ia's Church, St Ives]].
]]

===Written works===
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/tenlecturesonart00poyn|title= Ten lectures on art|location=London|publisher= Chapman and Hall|date= 1880}}
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/germanflemishan00bargoog |title= German, Flemish and Dutch painting|publisher=Scribner and Welford|date= 1881}} with Buxton, H. J. Wilmot (co-author)
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/classicitalianpa00poynuoft |title=Classic and Italian painting|location=London|publisher=S. Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington|date=1890}} with Percy Head (co-author)
{{refend}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Bell |first=Malcolm |url=https://archive.org/details/drawingsofsirejp00bell |title=Drawings of Sir E. J. Poynter |location=London |publisher=G. Newnes, Ltd. |date=1905}}
* Calinski, Tobias (2021): ''Edward J. Poynter "Lesbia and her Sparrow"'', in: ''Catull in Bild und Ton'', WBG Darmstadt, 223-261
*{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Poynter, Sir Edward John |volume=22 |page=239}}
*{{cite book |last=Gaunt |first=William |url=https://archive.org/details/victorianolympus0000gaun/page/42/mode/2up?q=Poynter |title=Victorian Olympus |publisher=Sphere Books Ltd. |year=1975 |location=London |pages=42–151, 166|isbn=9780351164200 }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Art UK bio}}
*[http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/poynter_sir_edward.html Edward Poynter online] (ArtCyclopedia)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100713005300/http://www.artmagick.com/pictures/artist.aspx?artist=edward-john-poynter&page=2 Edward Poynter – biography and paintings] (artmagick.com)
*[http://www.artrenewal.org/pages/artist.php?artistid=311 Edward Poynter – biography and paintings] (Art Renewal Center)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160305140733/https://dictionaryofarthistorians.org/poyntere.htm Poynter, Edward John, Sir] (Dictionary of Art Historians)
*[http://www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/pears_soap_company_atlowtide.htm Pears Soap Company & Sir Edward Poynter – "At Low Tide"] ("Art of the Print")
* {{Gutenberg author | id=36685}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Edward Poynter}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-culture}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John Everett Millais|Sir John Everett Millais]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of officers of the Royal Academy of Arts#Presidents (PRA)|President of the Royal Academy]]|years=1896–1918}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Aston Webb|Sir Aston Webb]]}}
{{s-reg|uk-bt}}
{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Poynter Baronets|Baronet]]'''<br>(of Albert Gate)'''|years=1902–1919}}
{{s-aft|after=Ambrose Poynter}}
{{s-end}}

{{Edward Poynter}}
{{Rudyard Kipling}}
{{National Gallery directors}}
{{Royal Academy of Arts}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poynter, Edward}}
[[Category:1836 births]]
[[Category:1919 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century English painters]]
[[Category:20th-century English painters]]
[[Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British curators]]
[[Category:British draughtsmen]]
[[Category:English male painters]]
[[Category:Royal Academicians]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:People educated at Brighton College]]
[[Category:People educated at Ipswich School]]
[[Category:Artists' Rifles soldiers]]
[[Category:Directors of the National Gallery, London]]
[[Category:Academics of the Slade School of Fine Art]]
[[Category:Painters from London]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Heatherley School of Fine Art]]
[[Category:19th-century English male artists]]
[[Category:19th-century British businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century English male artists]]