Sir Charles John Holmes
(1868-1936), Painter and critic; Director successively of the National Portrait Gallery and the National GallerySitter in 4 portraits
Artist associated with 4 portraits
In the 1890s Holmes was a prolific etcher, influenced by Charles Ricketts. He was the second editor of the Burlington (1903-1909) and Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford (1904-1910). As editor he initiated the Burlington's tradition of campaigning editorials on political issues in the art world. In 1909 he succeeded Lionel Cust as Director of the National Portrait Gallery. In the 19th century tradition he was a member of a dynasty of artist-bureaucrats, and was the last Director of the National Gallery (1916-1928) to combine the post with an active life as a painter of landscapes in watercolour and oil. He was knighted in 1921.
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