Early Life and Education
Charles Henry Malcolm Kerr, a prominent British artist, was born on January 22, 1858, in London. He was one of six sons and two daughters to
Robert Malcolm Kerr (1821–1902), a Judge of the City of London Court, and Maria Susannah Soley Kerr. Kerr's educational background includes Corpus Christi College, Oxford, followed by studies at the
Royal Academy Schools and the Académie Julian in Paris.
Artistic Career
Kerr's artistic career is marked by his contributions to portrait, genre, and landscape painting, as well as his work as an illustrator. He regularly exhibited his works at the
Royal Academy from 1884, showcasing pieces like 'Wargrave Church', 'The Oldest Inhabitant', and numerous portraits. His involvement with other prestigious institutions includes the
Royal Institute of Oil Painters,
Royal Hibernian Academy, Manchester City Art Gallery, and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.
Notable Works and Collaborations
Kerr's illustrations for adventure novels by
H. Rider Haggard, such as 'Allan Quatermain' (1887), 'She: A History of Adventure' (1888), and 'The Witch's Head' (1893), are particularly noteworthy. He also collaborated with other notable authors, including Robert Louis Stevenson ('The Wrong Box', 1899) and Arthur Conan Doyle (the Sherlock Holmes story 'The Sign of the Four', 1890).
Personal Life and Later Years
Kerr married
Gertrude Lizzie Giles, who posed for his 1905 painting
'The Visitor', now in the collection of the
Tate. His later years were marked by struggles with addiction to morphine, leading to his admission to the Priory and Manor House asylum in 1906. Kerr passed away on December 7, 1907, at his home in Burgess Hill.
Key Works:
- 'Wargrave Church'
- 'The Oldest Inhabitant'
-
'The Visitor' (1905)
Museums and Institutions:
-
Royal Institute of Oil Painters
-
Royal Hibernian Academy
- Manchester City Art Gallery
- Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool