Portrait of Briton Rivière, R.A., 1887

Sir Hubert von Herkomer RA (1849 - 1914)

RA Collection: Art

Herkomer’s early work was as an illustrator for publications such as The Graphic. He also painted subject pictures, often depicting realistic scenes of poverty and hardship, which proved very popular. In the 1880s he began painting portraits and built up an extremely successful practice painting commissions from Britain, Germany and America.

Briton Riviere RA (1840–1920) was primarily an animal painter. Although, unlike Edwin Landseer, he did not usually give his animals quasi-human characteristics, many of his pictures show great sympathy between man and beast were immensely popular. In this portrait Herkomer uses a subtle tonal range and a plain background to focus on obtaining the essential character of his sitter.