Philip Wilson Steer
1860-1942
In 1882 Steer was rejected as a candidate for the Royal Academy Schools and instead studied in Paris, 1882-83, first under Bouguereau at the Académie Julian and then under Cabanel at the École des Beaux Arts. Both these were conservative artists painting mythological pictures in a derivative Neo-Classical style for popular consumption. Steer returned to England in 1884 and in 1886 became a founding member of the New English Art Club. In the late 1880s his style was revolutionized by his discovery of the Impressionists, particularly Monet, four of whose paintings were exhibited in 1887-8 by the Society of British Artists. Steer was not only a personal friend of Sickert but worked closely with him until c. 1900, when artistically they began to drift apart. He became best known for his portraits and landscapes, which carried on the tradition of Constable though enlivened by Impressionist colour. His many watercolours fall into two groups: monochrome composition studies and more freely painted impressions, which were described by D. S. MacColl as 'watercolour wash drawings'. Steer's greatest period was c. 1907 to c. 1910, after which, although his output remained prolific, there was a certain loss of verve. In his lifetime his reputation was high: MacColl described him as 'the greatest colourist and most absolutely born-painter the English School now possesses'. His work is represented in public collections worldwide.
Works Available
Portrait Study