Edward Robert Hughes
Edward Robert Hughes was an English artist who lived from 1851 to 1914. He is most associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and Aesthetic movements that took place in England in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Hughes was part of the second generation of artists that propagated the Pre-Raphaelite ideals and aesthetics.
E. R. Hughes, as he is sometimes referred to, was the nephew of the well-known artist, Arthur Hughes. His uncle was one of the earliest members of the Pre-Raphaelite Movement when it started in 1848. Hughes lived with his uncle and his family, and it was from his uncle that Hughes received his earliest art training. In 1868, Hughes formalized his career choice and studied at the prestigious Royal Academy of Art in London. For seventeen years, Hughes was the studio assistant for one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, William Holman Hunt. When Hunt’s eyesight started to fail, Hughes helped Hunt to complete his paintings. Additionally, Hughes served as a model for Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Known for his watercolors and pastels, Hughes also created a number of oil paintings, equally mastering both mediums. Throughout his career, to supplement his income, he painted traditional oil portraits that were commissioned by the upper-class citizens of English society. He often created several detailed studies of his paintings prior to the final piece that are finished works in their own right. Hughes was met with early success. He often exhibited at the Royal Academy of Art, the Grosvenor Gallery, and the Royal Water-Colour Society. He rapidly climbed in the ranks. In 1891, he became an associate of the Royal Water-Colour Society of Art and by 1895 he was a full-fledged member.
In 1874, Hughes got engaged to Mary MacDonald, the daughter of the esteemed Scottish author, George MacDonald. Unfortunately, she died before their wedding. In 1883, he married Emily Eliza Davies and would remain with her for the rest of his life. The two did not have any children. Edward Robert Hughes died in 1914 after undergoing an unsuccessful appendicitis surgery. He was 64 years old.
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