Sir John Lavery Painting Reproductions 1 of 1

Sir John Lavery was an Irish painter born in Belfast, Ireland on 20 April 1856. He is known for his portraits and depictions of high society, as well as his depictions of World War I.

Lavery received his early artistic training in Glasgow, Scotland before moving to Paris, France where he studied at the Académie Julian and the École des Beaux-Arts. In Paris, he was influenced by the Impressionist movement and began to incorporate impressionist techniques into his own work.

In 1886, Lavery moved to London, England where he established himself as a leading portrait painter of the late Victorian era. He painted portraits of many prominent figures of the time, including King Edward VII, Queen Alexandra, and Winston Churchill.

During World War I, Lavery was appointed as an official war artist by the British government and was sent to the Western Front. His war paintings are considered some of the most important and moving depictions of the conflict.

In addition to his portraits and war paintings, Lavery is also known for his landscapes and scenes of high society events, such as the famous painting "The Arrival of King Edward VII in Jerusalem" (1903).

Lavery was knighted by King George V in 1918 for his contributions to British art and was also made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the French government. He continued to paint and exhibit his work until his death in 1941.

Overall, Sir John Lavery was one of the leading painters of his time and his work remains an important part of British art history.

Lavery married Hazel Martyn, an American heiress, in 1902. They had a close and supportive relationship and she was often the subject of his paintings. Hazel was also an accomplished artist in her own right and became an important figure in the London art world.

Lavery's style was characterized by his use of light and color, as well as his ability to capture the personalities of his sitters. He was known for his ability to convey a sense of informality in his portraits, which was unusual for the formal portraits of the time. He was also an early adopter of the technique of painting in series, creating multiple studies of a single subject from different angles and lighting conditions.

Lavery had a number of major exhibitions of his work during his lifetime, including shows at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and the Salon des Indépendants in Paris. He also had a major retrospective at the Tate Gallery in London in 1948, three years after his death.

Lavery's paintings continue to be highly valued and sought after by art collectors and museums. His works can be found in major collections around the world, including the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He remains one of Ireland's most important painters and a key figure in British art history.