Robert Huskisson (English, 1820-1861)
Robert Huskisson
English, 1820-1861
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Robert Huskisson was a British portrait painter who became particularly recognised for his fairy paintings. Born in the Langar area of Nottingham in 1819, he was christened Robert Locking Huskinson. Together with his younger sibling, Leonard, they changed the spelling of their surname after the pair moved to London in 1839.[1] Their father, Henry Huskinson, was a portrait painter who seems to have provided their tutoring in art.
Huskisson’s artworks began appearing at the Royal Academy in 1838, although his fairy paintings were not exhibited until 1847. He finally exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1854, after which, possibly due to ill health, he became so obscure that following his death in London on 6 October 1861 no obituary was included in The Art Journal. His work returned to particular prominence after four of his pieces were featured in a Royal Academy exhibition in 1997.