Albert Chevallier Tayler

He studied at Heatherley's, the Royal Academy, and with avant-garde painters in Paris, forming the foundation of his eclectic style.¹

He spent twelve years as a key member of the Newlyn School, bringing French plein air methods to England and contributing to British Impressionism.¹

He lived and worked with artists like Stanhope Forbes, forming an artist colony in a remote fishing village after leaving the city.¹

His 1888 masterpiece 'A Dress Rehearsal' skillfully uses light and shadow to dramatically depict a scene from everyday life in Cornwall, typical of his Newlyn period.¹

Around 1900, he moved to London and his style shifted from rustic rural scenes to sophisticated urban life and grand historical subjects.¹

With his 1901 masterpiece 'The Ceremony of the Garter,' he brilliantly depicted a medieval court ceremony, establishing himself as a historical painter.¹

In 1903, he was commissioned for a panel at the Royal Exchange; 'The Five Kings' depicts a 1363 feast and marks the peak of his reputation.¹

An avid cricketer, he produced a series of watercolours of famous players in 1905, which became popular through their use in soap advertisements.¹

His 1906 painting 'Kent vs Lancashire' sold for £680,000 at auction in 2006, setting a record price for a cricket-themed artwork.¹