David Wilkie Wynfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Wilkie Wynfield
A self-portrait by Wynfield
Born	1837 (1837) British India
Died	26 May 1887 (aged 49–50)
Nationality	British
Known for	Painting, photography

David Wilkie Wynfield (1837 – 26 May 1887) was a British artist. He was known for his paintings that showed scenes from history. He also became famous for his special way of taking portrait photos. These photos used a "shallow-focus" technique. This meant only the main subject was sharp, while the background was blurry.

He helped start a group of artists called the St John's Wood Clique. This group was famous for telling historical stories in their art. Wynfield often set his romantic paintings in Medieval or Renaissance Europe.

Even though he was mainly a painter, Wynfield was very good at photography. His photos looked a lot like paintings by Old Master artists. He greatly influenced another famous photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron. He taught her his shallow-focus technique.

During his life, Wynfield's work wasn't widely covered by the news. Because of this, people didn't always see him as a serious artist. But recently, his work has become more popular. This is thanks to his family and his connection to Julia Margaret Cameron.

Early Life

David Wilkie Wynfield was born in India in 1837. His father was an officer in the Indian Army. When David was a child, he moved back to England.

At first, Wynfield wanted to become a clergyman. But as he grew up, he became very interested in art. In 1856, he started studying at James Mathew Leigh's art school. This was the start of his art training.

Career

Wynfield showed his first painting at the Royal Academy in 1859. He also joined the St. John's Wood Clique. This group of artists was known for their historical paintings. Wynfield's paintings often showed romantic stories. They were usually set in Medieval or Renaissance Europe.

In the 1860s, Wynfield became interested in photography. He created a special "shallow-focus" technique for portraits. He taught this technique to Julia Margaret Cameron. She said he was her biggest influence.

Wynfield's photos often showed his artist friends from the St. John's Wood Clique. They would dress up in historical costumes. The pictures looked like paintings by old masters. In 1864, his photos were put into a book called The Studio. It showed photographic portraits of living artists. But the book may not have been very successful. Wynfield took the photos out of circulation soon after.

He kept showing his paintings in London. He exhibited them at places like the Royal Academy until 1887.

Supporting Other Artists

Wynfield was a big supporter of new art and artists in the late 1800s. In 1867, he joined a committee at the Dudley Gallery in London. He encouraged artists who were not well-known to show their work there. Wynfield also took many photos of artists in the 1860s and 1870s. He did this to help them become more famous.

At this time, the St John's Wood Clique wanted their art to be popular. Other artists, like Whistler, had different ideas. They wanted to challenge what people thought art should be. Because of this, the St John's Wood Clique's paintings were sometimes seen as old-fashioned.

But Wynfield believed that all artists deserved to be recognized. He thought that artists, no matter their style, should support each other.

Military Service

Wynfield joined the 38th Middlesex regiment. This was part of the Artists' volunteer rifles. This group was formed in 1859-60. It was created because people worried France might invade. Unlike some of his friends, Wynfield stayed with the group. He eventually became a captain in 1880.

Wynfield took photos of himself in military uniform. These photos showed that being a soldier and an artist could go together. He was also interested in family history and heraldry (family symbols). This influenced his ideas.

Personal Life

Wynfield lived with his mother. His sister Anne and her husband moved to the same street in 1865. Wynfield never married.

He died on May 26, 1887, from tuberculosis. He was buried at Highgate Cemetery.

Paintings

Wynfield was known for a style of art called 'historical genre'. This means his paintings showed historical, everyday, or romantic events. These events were usually from the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

One of Wynfield's most famous paintings is The Death of Buckingham. He showed this painting at the Royal Academy in 1871.

In the late 1860s, Wynfield started painting different kinds of scenes. Some were serious, and some were lighthearted. But sad events often appeared in his paintings.

Photography Style and Technique

Wynfield was mainly a painter, but he was also a great photographer. He didn't follow the usual rules of photography at the time. Instead, he used artistic and experimental methods. He took close-up shots and used soft focus. He also used strong contrasts of light and shadow. His portraits combined a soft, hazy look (like sfumato in painting) with the clear detail of a photo. He did this by focusing his camera slightly off. This made the edges of his large head studies look a bit blurry.

Some people thought the soft focus in his photos meant he wasn't a good photographer. But others praised how much they looked like paintings. He had a big influence on Julia Margaret Cameron. He started giving her advice in 1864.

Wynfield's photo studies made the artists he photographed look like famous artists from the past. In his portraits, he often used a sepia (brownish) tone. This was like the old engravings by Van Dyck. Van Dyck made a series of portraits of artists and important people. Wynfield also used costumes and strong light and shadow (called chiaroscuro). This made his modern subjects look even more like their famous predecessors.

Legacy

Wynfield's portraits are in several museums. These include the National Portrait Gallery in London. They are also at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Julia Margaret Cameron said he was the most important influence on her work.

His photography has gained more attention recently. This is because of his connection to Julia Margaret Cameron. Also, his family has worked hard to bring his art back into the spotlight.

Gallery

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  Portrait of an unknown man in armor.

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  Portrait of the painter Frederic Leighton in Renaissance costume.

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  Portrait of William Swinden Barber in Medieval costume.

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  Portrait of the painter George Frederic Watts.

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  Portrait of Alphonse Legros.

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  Portrait of the painter Simeon Solomon in oriental costume.

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  Portrait of the painter Valentine Cameron Prinsep, around the 1860s.