British artist Claude Andrew Calthrop was predominantly known as a masterly painter of genre scenes and occasional ‘plein air’ landscapes.
Calthrop was raised on a farm amid the picturesque marshlands of Deeping Fen, Lincoln, an area teeming with wildlife. As a boy, he was surely inspired to sketch outside, capturing the ever-changing landscape as it shifted through the seasons. His initial education was undertaken at a private school operated by the local curate, Joshua Kirkman, before he enrolled at the Lambeth School of Art, studying under John Sparkes.
From here, he was admitted into the Royal Academy Schools where he was awarded at least three medals - two for his draughtsmanship and a third for ‘the best historical picture in oil’. While still a student, he debuted at two of London’s foremost venues - the Royal Society of British Artists and the British Institution. And two years later, at the prestigious Royal Academy itself, with a piece titled ‘After Mass’.
In 1868, seemingly buoyed by this early success, he headed for Paris where he shared a studio with the figure painter, Thomas Davidson RA (1842-1919), who trained under Léon Bonnat (1833-1922). It’s likely that Calthrop was also a student of Bonnat.
Training in Paris during the late 1860s would’ve been a fascinating affair as there was a tangible conflict between the regimen of the old guard and the controversy of the Impressionists. Claude Monet (1840-1926) produced ‘The Luncheon’ that year, which was ultimately rejected by the hanging committee of the Salon. While the highly academic, exceedingly polished, elite painters such as William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) were lauded by the establishment.
What did the young Calthrop make of it all? Thrown into a dizzying world of strict tuition, high fashion, and artistic poverty. Was he excited by the emerging ideas of painting ‘en plein air’ among nature or did he shun modernity in favour of the stricter world of respectable academia? If we consider his oeuvre, the answer is clear - he favoured a finer style for his exhibited works while also producing looser, freer, landscape studies for himself. He respected his trailblazing peers but also the realities of a gainful career.
Upon his return, he established himself as a painter of merit, producing numerous highly accomplished works depicting historical scenes, focusing often on the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. These include ‘The Attempted Assassination of William the Silent, Prince of Orange’ and a rather sombre ‘Marie Antoinette Being Led to Execution’. Both are rendered with exemplary draughtsmanship.
However, over time, he turned increasingly to scenes from everyday domestic life, perhaps due to the changing tastes of patrons who sought to decorate their homes with relatable subjects. Traditionally, history painting was reserved for the landed gentry, while lighter subjects were favoured by the rising middle classes.
His work ‘Tea Time’ from 1875, is a particularly fine example and depicts three ladies attired in billowing dresses while taking tea in a Victorian parlour. The composition pulls us into the scene, as if we’re an invited guest, while the furnishings and drapery are handled adroitly. It sold at Sotheby’s for £117,000. That same year, he married Louisa Chance in Malvern, Worcestershire, at a grand wedding, reported by the local press. Louisa’s parents were evidently well-connected, which would serve the young artist well. The pair later moved to a substantial property in London - quite a departure for a farmer’s son from The Fens.
With his career gathering momentum, Calthrop’s life was sadly cut short and we’re left to wonder what he could’ve produced. Not only was he capable of working at the highest echelons with elegantly crafted scenes, he could also apply his spirit to capture the fleeting effects of nature. He’s represented at The Tate.
His brother was the celebrated actor John Clayton (born John Alfred Calthrop).
Exhibited
Royal Academy, British Institution, Royal Society of British Artists.
Public Collections
The Wilson in Cheltenham, The Tate, Brighton & Hove Museums,
Timeline
1845
Born in Deeping Fen, Lincoln, to James C Calthorp, a landowner/farmer, and Esther N Calthorp.
1851
Lived in Deeping Fen, Lincolnshire, with his parents, five siblings, and staff.
1861
Lived in St Giles, Middlesex, while studying at a private school operated by the local curate, Joshua Kirkman.
Studied under John Sparkes at the Lambeth School of Art, South Lambeth, London.
Studied at the Royal Academy Schools.
1864
Awarded a silver medal by the Royal Academy for ‘drawing from the life’.
Debuted at the Royal Society of British Artists with ‘Too Late’.
1865
Awarded a silver medal by the Royal Academy for ‘drawing from the life’.
Awarded a gold medal by the Royal Academy for ‘the best historical picture in oil’.
Debuted at the British Institution.
1867
Debuted at the Royal Academy with ‘After Mass’, where he continued to exhibit for the rest of his life, missing only three years. Address given as Spencer Street, London.
1868
Address given at the Royal Academy as Boulevard de Clichy, Paris.
Studied in Paris, possibly under Léon Bonnat (1833-1922), and shared a studio with Thomas Davidson RA (1842-1919).
1869
Awarded first prize by The Art Union for ‘God’s Acre’.
Address given at the Royal Academy as ‘Newman Street’.
1875
Married Louisa Chance in Malvern, Worcestershire.
1881
Lived with his wife, Louisa, son, Everard, and three staff in Kensington, London. Occupation recorded as ‘Artist Painting’.
C. 1885
Probably travelled to Brittany, France.
1891
Recorded in the census as a visitor at his in-laws in Edgbaston, Birmingham, together with his wife. Occupation recorded as ‘Artist Painter’.
1893
Died in Norfolk.
Reviews
Worcestershire Chronicle (1875)
“Malvern was, on Tuesday, the scene of great rejoicings, it being the occasion of the marriage of Miss Louisa Chance, second daughter of Edward Chance, Esq., of Lawnside, Great Malvern, to Mr. Claude Calthrop, a gentleman well-known and of high repute as an artist. The weather was highly favourable, the bells rang merry peals, and all appeared joyous and happy with the excitement of so interesting an event.
The Abbey Church was filled with the élite of Malvern anxious to witness the ceremony, which was performed by the Rev. Furgusson, assisted by the Rev. I. Gregory Smith, vicar, and the Rev. C. R. Barker. The bride was attired in white satin, with Brussels lace fall, and a wreath of orange blossoms, and she carried in her hand a superb bouquet of flowers. The bridesmaids were three sisters of the bride, Miss Seton Karr, two Miss Calthrops, and two of the bridesmaids' cousins, four of whom wore primrose tarlatan dresses and four blue tarlatan, with hats to match, each carrying a splendid bouquet of flowers.
As soon as the bride and her father entered the church the choir sang a hymn, after which the parties having taken their places at the altar, making an effective tableau, the ceremony was performed, and at its conclusion they retired to the vestry, where the usual forms having been gone through, the wedding party seated in their carriages, returned to Lawnside, where the wedding breakfast was laid out. The guests numbered upwards of 50. The bridal cake, manufactured by Mr. Need, of this town, was a prominent object standing in the centre of the table. The bridal party was grouped upon the lawn and photographed by Mr. F. C. Earl, of this town and Worcester.
At the breakfast, after the health of the bride and bridegroom had been drunk and responded to, the happy pair drove off in a coach and pair belonging to the father of the bride to Shrub-hill Station, Worcester, en route to France. The bridal presents were both numerous and costly, and comprised articles of great beauty. In the evening, a ball was held at Lawnside. Many signs on the road from the bride's home to the church showed how highly the happy pair and family were esteemed. Flags were displayed at the Local Board Offices and at the Club, and all along the road were signs of their popularity. The Rhine Band was stationed on the lawn and played at intervals.”
Obituaries
The Athenœum
“We are sorry to record the death of Mr. Claude Andrew Calthrop (who generally banked his second name), which happened on the 11th inst., at Hammersmith, and deprived us of a most clever and most amiable painter of genre subjects, sentimental and historical, and of pleasing costume pictures marked with greater facility than solidity, but always thought out with a graceful adroitness and deft aptitude. Mr. Calthrop was in his fortieth year and used to send pictures to the Academy, Suffolk-street, and (under the penultimate régime) the Dudley Gallery. It may be mentioned that Mr. Calthrop has at least one picture at Burlington House this year.”
Norfolk News
“Sudden death of a visitor. A gentleman named Calthrop, said to be a distant relative of Mr. H. C. H. Calthrop of Stanhoe, and one of a party of golfers here, died after a short illness, at the house of Miss Sharpe, on the 18th. The deceased resided at Beach House, The Mall, Hammersmith, London, and it is said, was not in very good health when he came. Probably when heated he caught a chill from the east wind. The funeral arrangements here were under the direction of Mr. Charles Goodwin of Docking, and the remains of the deceased were borne in a Washington car to Hunstanton on Friday evening, and thence by rail to the place of interment, Malvern, Worcestershire, the funeral taking place on Monday 24th. The body was enclosed in a shell, within an oak coffin, with brass furniture (the work of Mr. C. Goodwin), and on the brass shield, which was very artistically chased, was engraved: ‘Claude Andrews Calthrop, born 20th December, 1845, died 18th April, 1893.’”
Spalding Guardian
“On Tuesday Mr. Claude Andrews Calthrop, brother of Mr. J. G. Calthrop of Spalding, died at Brancaster, Norfolk, after an illness extending over some little time. Mr. Calthrop was an artist of considerable repute, and executed paintings of such merit that, on more than one occasion, his works were exhibited at the Royal Academy. Mr. Calthrop was 48 years of age, and had a residence at The Mall, Hammersmith. It is not long since the death of Mr. Clayton Calthrop, the distinguished actor, another of Mr. Calthrop's brothers, was recorded.”
The Graphic
“Mr. Claude Calthrop, the artist, died on April 18, after a brief illness, at the age of forty-eight. He began his art education under Mr. Sparkes, at the School of Art, South Lambeth, and gained various medals at South Kensington, afterwards being a student for some time at the Royal Academy Schools, where he won the gold medal for the best historical picture. Mr. Calthrop subsequently studied in Paris, and there painted his first distinct success, ‘The Last Song of the Girondists,’ a picture which attracted considerable attention at the Royal Academy. This picture was followed after a few years by another successful painting, ‘From Generation to Generation,’ and some time later by ‘Le Lever de Monseigneur.’ In this year's Academy there are two pictures by Mr. Calthrop, ‘Convalescent’ and ‘Cavaliers in Hiding’. Our portrait is from a photograph by F. D. Earl, Malvern and Worcester.”
Leeds Mercury
“Claude Calthrop, a young artist of great promise, cut off before his powers had fully matured. Some years ago he came with a rush with scenes of Breton village life, and since then has rather fluctuated between French and English subjects. He always painted with taste and knowledge, and was steadily making his way in public favour.”