Arthur Hacker - Pelagia and Philammon

Arthur Hacker (1858–1919) was an English painter and illustrator associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. He was born in London and studied at the Royal Academy of Arts, where he won several awards and prizes. His early works were influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, particularly Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and featured romantic and mythological themes. Hacker exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1878 onwards and became a member of the New English Art Club in 1886. He also contributed illustrations to books and magazines, including the prestigious illustrated edition of Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" published by Harper & Brothers in 1898. In the 1890s, Hacker's style shifted towards a more naturalistic and impressionistic approach, and he began to paint portraits and landscapes as well as genre scenes. He travelled extensively in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and his travels inspired many of his later works. Hacker was a prolific artist who exhibited widely throughout his career. He was awarded a gold medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900, and his works are held in many public collections, including the Tate Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.