Charles H. M. Kerr facts for kids
Charles Henry Malcolm Kerr (born January 22, 1858 – died December 7, 1907) was a British artist. He was a painter and illustrator during the late Victorian era. He is perhaps best known for the pictures he drew for the adventure books by H. Rider Haggard.
Charles Kerr's Art Career
Charles Kerr was born in London. His father, Robert Malcolm Kerr, was a judge. Charles went to Corpus Christi College, Oxford for his education. After Oxford, he studied art at the Royal Academy Schools and also in Paris at the Académie Julian.
He often showed his paintings at the Royal Academy starting in 1884. Some of his famous paintings included 'Wargrave Church' and 'The Oldest Inhabitant'. He also painted many portraits of people.
Kerr's art was shown in other important galleries too. These included the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Society of British Artists. In 1890, he became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists.
Illustrations for Books
Charles Kerr was a very talented illustrator. He drew pictures for many popular books of his time.
He illustrated several adventure novels by H. Rider Haggard, such as:
- Allan Quatermain (1887)
- Allan's Wife & Other Tales (1889)
- Nada the Lily (1892)
- The Witch's Head (1893)
He also created drawings for books by other famous authors:
- Robert Louis Stevenson's The Wrong Box (1899)
- Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes story The Sign of the Four (1890)
In 1889, Charles Kerr was invited to a special dinner. It was held to celebrate another artist, James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Charles Kerr married Gertrude Lizzie Giles. She was the model for his painting 'The Visitor', which you can see at the Tate gallery.
Later Life and Passing
Charles Kerr passed away at his home in Burgess Hill in December 1907. He was 49 years old.
Images for kids
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'Myself' by Charles H. M. Kerr (1899)
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Kerr's illustration for a story on Kaspar Hauser, 1893
