Philip Hermogenes Calderon (British, 1833-1898)
Philip Hermogenes Calderon was born in Poitiers, the son of a Spanish priest and a French mother. In 1851 he enrolled in M. J. Leigh's Art School and later studied at the atelier of Francois Edouard Picot. Here he met Henry Stacy Marks who would become a fellow member of the St. John's Wood Clique. Other members of the Clique included such artists as G.D. Leslie and Seymour Lucas. Calderon loved fun and earned himself the nickname 'the fiend' from antics such as dressing as a Mephistopheles and singing what was considered the 'Satanic' aria from Gounod's Faust.
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Calderon first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1853 and he became known as a painter of biblical and historical themes with great attention to detail. Often he would add an element of humor to his work. Calderon was elected RA in 1867 and was Keeper of the RA from 1887-98.Museums: Philip Hermogenes Calderon may be found at the Tate Gallery, London
Calderon was born in Poitiers, France. His father had been a teacher of Spanish literature and a past Roman Catholic priest who had changed over to Anglicanism. Calderon intended to learn engineering, however he grew so fascinated in drafting technical forms and plots that he switched and committed his time to painting. His initial successful piece was titled By the Waters of Babylon, that was succeeded by a great deal more favored one titled Broken Vows. Since the outset he admired the Pre-Raphaelites, and among of his work is seen the detail, rich colors, and honest figures which qualify the genre.
Calderon was a guiding part of the St John's Wood Clique, a group of painters concerned with current themes and historical themes. Historical, biblical, as well as literary topics were frequent in Calderon's late paintings. Several of his works depict woman dressed rich, silken garments in softly colored backdrops. His painting Morning includes a copper haired maid viewing a sunrise.
The painting Juliet shows Shakespeare's girlish heroine sitting on her balcony watching the stars. His late works take on increasingly classic trend, comparable to Edward Poynter. His 1891 piece St Elizabeth of Hungary's Great Act of Renunciation gained the Chantrey bequest however created extensive dispute due to of its detected anti-Catholic subject matter. It portrayed the saint crouching nude over an altar watched over by monks.
Selected Paintings of Philip Hermogenes Calderon
- At the Stream- Broken Vows
- By the Waters of Babylon
- Going with the Stream 1869
- Juliet
- Ruth and Naomi
- St Elizabeth of Hungary's Great Act of Renunciation
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