Arthur Hughes was an English painter and illustrator associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
Hughes was born in London. In 1846 he entered the art school at Somerset House, his first master being Alfred Stevens, and later entered the Royal Academy schools. Here he met John Everett Millais and Holman Hunt, and became one of the Pre-Raphaelite group of painters. His first picture, Musidora, was hung at the Royal Academy when he was only 17, and thenceforth he contributed almost annually not only to the Royal Academy but later also to the Grosvenor and New Gallery exhibitions.
In 1855 Hughes married Tryphena Foord, his model for April Love. Hughes died in Kew Green, London in 1915, leaving about 700 known paintings and drawings, along with over 750 book illustrations. Following the death of Tryphena Hughes in 1921, their daughter Emily had to move to a smaller house. There was, therefore, a shortage of space. As a result, she had her father’s remaining preparatory sketches, and all his private papers and correspondence, destroyed. He was the father of the English painter Arthur Foord Hughes and the uncle of another, Edward Robert Hughes.
Hughes is buried in Richmond Cemetery.
His best-known paintings are April Love and The Long Engagement, both of which depict troubled couples contemplating the transience of love and beauty. They were inspired by John Everett Millais's earlier "couple" paintings but place far greater emphasis on the pathos of human inability to maintain the freshness of youthful feeling in comparison to the regenerative power of nature.
Like Millais, Hughes also painted Ophelia which is housed at Toledo Museum of Art and illustrated Keats's poem The Eve of St. Agnes. Hughes's version of the latter is in the form of a secular triptych, a technique he repeated for scenes from Shakespeare's As You Like It. His works are noted for their magical, glowing colouring and delicate draughtsmanship.
The oil portrait Springtide, first exhibited in Dublin in 1855, features his wife Tryphena.
Hughes was in close contact with the writer George MacDonald and illustrated some of his books, as well as producing numerous illustrations for Norman MacLeod's monthly magazine, Good Words.

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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.

• View more of Arthur Hughes' artworks on WahooArt
• Read more about Arthur Hughes on Wikipedia
• Explore the Timeline of Art Movements to understand the context of Pre-Raphaelite art

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)