Haynes King RBA was a meritorious British painter of genre subjects, portraits and landscapes.
Born in Bridgetown, Barbados, King moved to London at 23 and undertook his education at the acclaimed Leigh’s Academy. He did so while simultaneously studying heartily from his city lodgings - working predominantly from live subjects. Described as “one of the most strikingly handsome men in London”, he was understandably never short of models.
In 1855, he became acquainted with the prominent Scottish artist, Thomas Faed RA (1826-1900), who became both an artistic advisor and trusted confidante. Faed was a notable painter of scenes and probably encouraged the young aspirant to pursue similar endeavours. As a result, King’s works bear many resemblances in terms of content and spirit, yet they’re also noticeably more buoyant when compared to the Scot’s surly tones.
King’s narratives tend to convey domestic tales involving young country women, such as mothers sitting dotingly alongside cherubic infants and blushed sweethearts drafting loving prose to absent suitors. They’re quintessentially sentimental and were popular with female buyers and London dealers.
Aside from his rural depictions, King spent numerous summers painting the French fisherfolk of Normandy, Brittany and Portel, near Boulogne. Often working on a small scale, his colourful depictions are flooded with light and decorative appeal.
In 1857, he debuted at the Royal Society of British Artists where he was elected a member seven years later. And, in 1860, his first work was hung at the Royal Academy, where he would exhibit until his death. He lived for a while with the landscape artist Henry Yeend King, of no relation, and married Annie Elizabeth Wilson in 1866.
When into his 70s, he was beset by a lingering illness, which tragically led to his suicide at Swiss Cottage on the Metropolitan Railway in 1904. In an obituary, he was described as “the comrade of many artists, actors and journalists” with an almost inexhaustible “fund of stories”.
He’s represented in numerous public collections including at the V&A Museum, Leeds Art Gallery and the Victoria Art Gallery.
Exhibited
Royal Academy, Royal Society of British Artists.
Public Collections
Beverley Art Gallery, Laing Art Gallery, Leeds Art Gallery, The New Art Gallery in Walsall, Victoria Art Gallery, V&A Museum.
Timeline
1831
Born in Bridgetown, Barbados to Robert Morgan King, a gentleman, and Maria King.
1854
Moved to London.
Trained at Leigh’s Academy in London.
1857
Debuted at the Royal Society of British Artists.
1860
Debuted at the Royal Academy with ‘Looking Out’. He exhibited until 1904 and 48 works were shown. Address given as Victoria Road, Kentish Town, London.
1861
Boarded in Kentish Town. Occupation recorded as “Artist (Painter)”.
1864
Elected a member of the Society of British Artists.
1866
Married Annie Elizabeth Wilson in Camden, London.
1881
Lived in Kentish Town with his wife, niece and two servants. Occupation recorded as “Artist on Wood”.
1891
Boarding in St Marylebone, London, with the artist Henry John Yeend King and his family. Occupation recorded as “RBA Artist Figure Painter”. Widowed.
1901
Boarding in Hampstead, London, with the artist Henry John Yeend King and his family. Occupation recorded as “Artist Painter”.
1904
Died in London.
Obituaries
Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper
“Mr. Haynes King was born in Barbados in 1831 and came to England when he was 23. He painted little pictures, crisp and bright of fisher lads and lasses, and cottage scenes. His personality was a striking one. Tall and handsome, his head topped with rich curly masses of snow-white hair, his presence at once attracted attention. He was well known along the Northern French coast, for he hardly passed a year without visiting Normandy, Brittany, and the Boulonnais.”