20 Facts About Henry Holiday

Henry Holiday was an English Victorian painter of historical genre and landscapes, a stained-glass designer, illustrator, and sculptor.

Henry Holiday was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, many of whom he knew.

Henry Holiday showed an early aptitude for art and was given lessons by William Cave Thomas.

Henry Holiday attended Leigh's art academy and in 1855, at the age of 15, was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools.

Henry Holiday wrote, "For concentrated loveliness, I know nothing that can quite compare with the lakes and mountains of Westmorland, Cumberland and Lancashire".

Henry Holiday spent much time at the studios of Sir Edward Burne-Jones, where groups of artists would meet to discuss, exchange and pool ideas.

Henry Holiday left in 1891 to set up his own glass works in Hampstead, producing stained glass, mosaics, enamels and sacerdotal objects.

Henry Holiday's stained glass work can be found all over Britain.

Henry Holiday created some sculpture, in 1861 producing a piece called Sleep which attracted favourable critical interest.

Henry Holiday has four oil paintings in British national public collections.

In October 1864, Henry Holiday married Catherine Raven and they moved to Bayswater, London.

In 1867, Henry Holiday visited Italy for the first time and was inspired by the originality of the Renaissance artists he saw on display there.

In July 1875, Henry Holiday was commissioned by Lewis Carroll to illustrate The Hunting of the Snark.

Henry Holiday remained a friend of the author throughout his life.

From 1899, Henry Holiday worked with Jessie Mothersole as studio assistant and she remained closely associated with the family until Henry Holiday's death.

In 1906 Henry Holiday gave Mothersole a drawing of his daughter Winifred, which later was acquired by the British Museum.

In 1907, Henry Holiday went to Egypt, painting a series of watercolours and illustrations on ancient Egyptian themes.

Henry Holiday had been a socialist throughout his life and, together with his wife Kate and daughter Winifred, supported the Suffragette movement.

Henry Holiday died on 15 April 1927 in London, two years after his wife, Catherine.

Henry Holiday's nephew, Gilbert Holiday, son of Sir Frederick Holiday, was an artist who has paintings in British collections.