Joseph Distributes Corn (1864–81)

Edward John Poynter prints bring the marble halls, ancient myths and grand historical scenes of Victorian classical painting into your home. Poynter was an English painter and designer who became President of the Royal Academy and Director of the National Gallery. Our collection of fine art prints covers his classical and Egyptian subjects, mythological figures, his Bible illustrations and portraits.

About Edward John Poynter

Edward John Poynter was born in Paris on 20 March 1836, the son of the architect Ambrose Poynter, and grew up in England. Ill health took him to Madeira and Rome as a youth, and in Rome in 1853 he met Frederic Leighton, who made a deep impression on him. He studied at Leigh's Academy and the Royal Academy Schools in London, then in Paris with the classicist Charles Gleyre, alongside James McNeill Whistler and George du Maurier.

In 1866 he married Agnes MacDonald, one of the famous MacDonald sisters: her sister Georgiana married Edward Burne-Jones, Alice was the mother of Rudyard Kipling and Louisa the mother of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. His large historical painting Israel in Egypt (1867) made his name, and he designed a St George mosaic for the Palace of Westminster.

Poynter held many official posts: first Slade Professor at University College London (1871–75), principal of the National Art Training School (1875–81) and Director of the National Gallery (1894–1904), overseeing the opening of the Tate. In 1896 he succeeded Millais as President of the Royal Academy and was knighted; he was made a baronet in 1902. He died in London on 26 July 1919.

Style and Subjects

Poynter painted the ancient world with careful archaeological detail and a cool, polished finish. His pictures range from vast scenes of Egypt and the Bible, crowded with figures and monumental architecture, to quiet, graceful single figures in marble interiors.

He was a superb draughtsman, and his studies of figures and drapery are admired in their own right. He also designed mosaics and book illustrations, including a series of Bible scenes in the store.

Famous Works

• Orpheus and Eurydice (1862). An early mythological subject.
• Faithful Unto Death (1865), Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. A Roman sentry stands at his post as Pompeii is destroyed.
• Israel in Egypt (1867), Guildhall Art Gallery, London. Hebrew slaves hauling a huge statue, the picture that made his name.
• Andromeda (1869), Pérez Simón Collection. The princess chained to a rock as a storm rises.
• A Visit to Aesculapius (1880), Tate, London. Venus brings a thorn in her foot to the god of healing.
• Diadumenè (1883), Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter. A bather tying her hair in a Roman bath.
• The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon (1884–90), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. A dazzling court scene, perhaps the culmination of his career.
• Helena and Hermia (1901), Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. Two young women from A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Decorating with Poynter Prints

Poynter's classical figures, like The Peacock Fan or Asterié, bring calm elegance to a bedroom, bathroom or dressing room, and suit classic and neoclassical interiors with marble and soft colours.

His grand historical scenes, such as Israel in Egypt or The Queen of Sheba, make an impressive focal point in a library, study or dining room.

FAQ

Who was Edward John Poynter?

Sir Edward John Poynter (1836–1919) was an English painter and designer, President of the Royal Academy from 1896 and Director of the National Gallery from 1894 to 1904.

What is Poynter's most famous painting?

Israel in Egypt (1867), Faithful Unto Death (1865) and The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon (1884–90) are among his best-known works.

Was Poynter related to Burne-Jones and Kipling?

By marriage. His wife Agnes was the sister of Georgiana Burne-Jones and of Rudyard Kipling's mother, so Kipling was his nephew.

Where can I see Poynter's paintings?

The Guildhall Art Gallery and Tate in London, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Art Gallery of South Australia hold major works.

Related Artists

• Frederic Leighton: met him in Rome and deeply influenced him
• Edward Burne-Jones: his brother-in-law
• Lawrence Alma-Tadema: fellow Victorian painter of the ancient world
• John William Godward: later painter of classical women in marble settings
• Charles Gleyre: his teacher in Paris