Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 4).djvu/155



R. ED. JOHN POYNTER was born at Paris, his father being Mr. Ambrose Poynter, the architect. He was educated at Westminster School and at Ipswich Grammar School; he studied art in the Royal Academy schools until he was 20, and afterwards for three years under Gleyre at Paris. He then settled in London, and at 26 exhibited his first Academy picture. It was, however, in 1867 that he made his reputation by his picture "Israel in Egypt." Two years later he was elected A.R.A.; in 1876 he was made R.A. From 1871 to 1876 he was Slade Professor of Art at University College. He published in 1879 his well-known volume entitled "Ten Lectures on Art." Most of his finest pictures are based on classical subjects, such as "Atalanta's Race" and "A Visit to Esculapius;" the latter of which, purchased out of the Chantrey fund, is one of the most successful classical pictures of the present day.