While the creative artist in him wanted to keep painting, Landseer’s mental health started it gradual deterioration in the 1860s. In 1866, he declines the Presidency of the Royal Academy. Instead, his paintings depicted violent and disturbing visuals. In 1850, Landseer was knighted and his problems, which included depression, and substance abuse did not stop him from painting. He became increasingly dependent on drugs and alcohol and this was the start of his downward spiral. After returning home, the fallen artist was looked after his aunt and his sister. Dignity and Impudence 1839 Sir Edwin Henry Landseer 1802-1873 Bequeathed by Jacob Bell 1859 īell took care of his day to day tasks which was now impossible for Landseer to do. Landseer traveled with the reputed artists and chemist Jacob Bell. He traveled around Europe during this time and made numerous illustrations of the people and the animals of the countries he toured. Even today, his career is famous for these specific topics and the addition of his work for Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square ensures that his reputation shows little sign of waning any time soon.He had to take a break from his career to try and get better. In recent years he has received a number of exhibitions devoted to his career in both nations, with the inherent themes of the British landscape, animals and also the ruling powers of Victorian Britain being of interest to a great many. This is an artist who pricked interest across the pond in the US, who traditionally have followed many of the most famous British painters. A number of engravings of his most famous paintings allowed his reputation to spread beyond the British boundaries and his connection to the ruling Monarchy immediately stirred interest. Landseer was held in popular regard by the public throughout the majority of his career, even though he came under attack from academics from time time. If we look at the most famous British artists, no-one has quite the same content as that found in Landseer's paintings - Gainsborough combined portraits and landscapes, whilst Turner and Constable just concerned themselves with landscapes and seascapes. Few British artists have managed to capture the beauty of the natural world or the animal world as well as Landseer, but some of his greatest works have similar qualities to the extraordinary accuracy of George Stubbs, who himself gave us the enchanting Whistlejacket. The Monarch of the Glen remains his signature painting and perfectly captures his work within the UK. She understood the immediacy and accessibility of his paintings, and that Scottish themes alongside her own image could help to encourage others within the nation to embrace her rule with a greater passion. In a form of propaganda, long before the arrival of the modern media, Landseer was used by Queen Victoria to improve and develop her public image within Scotland. This connection to the monarchy also brought about Landseer’s time working in the Scottish highlands, which again added an extra inspiration to his work and supplied an additional genre of work to his final oeuvre. Indeed, Prince Albert was known to have been delighted with his gifted portrait of Eos, his greyhound. They trusted him, and hugely respected his work. To be invited into the personal world of this ruling couple was a rare privilege and their relationship continued for many years, with the artist being given many more projects from there on in. She considered him a particularly clever artist and commissioned him to produce a portrait of her husband's dog, Eos. The artist became very close with Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. It also ensured that Landseer's paintings will always remain in the public conscience, even if his artistic style falls out of fashion. These paintings opened doors to his career as well as leaving behind some charming portraits of key figures from this era. There was also an additional sphere to his oeuvre which focused on the ruling monarchy of the time. Whilst being an exceptional piece, there are many other significant works from his career that can be considered its equal. When considering the career of this highly respected painter, one immediately remembers his most famous painting of all - The Monarch of the Glen.
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