About the artist

Sir Hubert von Herkomer was a German born British painter, film-director and composer. He was a successful portraitist, especially of men, but he is mainly remembered for his earlier works that took a realistic approach to the conditions of life of the poor. His painting ‘Hard Times’ is one of his best known works, showing the family of a travelling labourer at the side of a road. Herkomer grew up in a poor family himself. He began working as an illustrator and worked his way up; he was elected an associate of the Academy in 1879, an academician in 1890, a full member of the Royal Watercolour Society in 1894, and in 1885 he was appointed Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford. In 1899 he was ennobled Ritter by King Otto of Bavaria and in 1907 he was knighted by King Edward VII.
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