Arthur Hughes

1832 - 1915

Quick Facts

  • Gift suitability: anniversary
  • Top 3 works:
    • April Love
    • Home From Sea
    • The Knight of the Sun (reduced version)
  • Emotional tone: melancholic
  • Nationality: United Kingdom
  • Lifespan: 83 years
  • Typical colors:
    • earthy
    • neutrals
  • Copyright status: Public domain
  • Room fit: living room

early life and training

arthur hughes, a british painter and illustrator associated with the pre-raphaelite brotherhood, was born in london on january 27, 1832. in 1846, he entered the art school at somerset house, where his first master was alfred stevens. later, he attended the royal academy schools, where he met john everett millais and holman hunt, becoming a part of the pre-raphaelite group of painters.

notable works and style

hughes' first picture, musidora, was exhibited at the royal academy when he was just 17. he continued to contribute to the royal academy and later to the grosvenor and new gallery exhibitions almost annually. his best-known works include april love and the long engagement, which depict troubled couples contemplating the transience of love and beauty, inspired by john everett millais's earlier "couple" paintings.

personal life and legacy

in 1855, hughes married tryphena foord, who was his model for april love. he died in kew green, london, on december 22, 1915, leaving behind approximately 700 known paintings and drawings, along with over 750 book illustrations. his daughter, emily, had to destroy his preparatory sketches and private papers due to a shortage of space after her mother's death in 1921.

artistic style and influences

magical, glowing coloring and delicate draughtsmanship characterize hughes' works. he was also influenced by the writer george macdonald, for whom he illustrated some books, and produced numerous illustrations for norman macleod's monthly magazine, good words.

key works and exhibitions

- april love, 1855 (exhibited at grosvenor gallery) - the long engagement, 1862 (exhibited at new gallery) - musidora, 1849 (exhibited at the royal academy)

notable museums and collections

- toledo museum of art (features hughes' ophelia) - victoria and albert museum (holds several of hughes' illustrations)

Questions & Answers

How do I find all works by Arthur Hughes in a given medium?

Arthur Hughes's works can be browsed by medium on the artist's All Medium page.

What colors did Arthur Hughes use most often?

Arthur Hughes's use of color across the works listed on this website can be studied on the artist's Palette Genome page.

Is there a timeline of Arthur Hughes's works?

Arthur Hughes's artworks can be seen in chronological order on the artist's Artwork Timeline page.

Art Quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
What artistic movement was Arthur Hughes associated with?
Question 2:
Hughes’s first painting, “Musidora,” debuted at which prestigious art institution?
Question 3:
Who was Hughes’s model for the painting “April Love”?
Question 4:
Hughes illustrated numerous books by which author?
Question 5:
What is a characteristic feature of Hughes’s artistic style?