A Legacy in Portraiture and Watercolour
Frederick Havill was an English artist of the 19th century who contributed to multiple mediums. He is particularly remembered for his role in portraiture and for being a founding member of the modern English school of watercolour. His most active period occurred during the 1840s, leading to his showing at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1849, and he continued to exhibit chiefly through 1874.
His prestigious works are held in notable collections, including the National Portrait Gallery, London, which houses his posthumous portrait of the Scottish physician and pioneer missionary David Livingstone. This oil on canvas was donated by John Lillie in 1896. Other works by Havill are held in the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.
Life and Selected Works
Havill's life saw a transition from Cheltenham to London. Following the death of his first wife, Elizabeth, and his subsequent remarriage in 1865, he established his household in Chelsea until his death in 1884. He was married twice, first to Elizabeth, with whom he had a daughter named Lucy Elizabeth, and later to Catherine Elizabeth Humphreys.
His notable works include:
