Born John Maler Collier, English painter John Collier was a portrait painter who touched many. He was a member of, and one of the twenty-four founders of, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. He later became vice president and authored several nonfiction books regarding his art.
Born into a talented and successful family, John Collier spent his young life eagerly exploring his talents while receiving a great deal of support from the people closest to him. His father and grandfather were both members of Parliament, and both were very influential and well-liked people. He married Marian Huxley in 1879. She gave birth to their only child and then began to suffer tremendously with postpartum depression. As his wife’s symptoms became progressively more severe, Collier sent her to France for treatment. She passed away due to complications from pneumonia. In 1889, he married her younger sister, Ethel, in Norway. She gave birth to two children: a daughter and a son.
Early on in his quest to become a successful artist, John Collier was introduced to many influential people in the art community by his father and grandfather. After he was introduced to Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, he decided to study at the Slade School of Art in London under the teaching of Edward Poynter. He then moved to France to learn art under the guidance of Jean-Paul Laurens. After learning with Laurens, Collier continued his art studies in Munich, where he honed his skills. From the beginning of his education, he produced and sent many paintings and portraits to the Royal Academy. Collier continued this practice from 1870 up until the time of his death. Portrait painting was his specialty, and many of his commissioned works became famous. He painted many portraits of English nobility and royalty, including Master of the Rolls, a depiction of Sir George Jessel in 1881, and Master of Trinity House, a likeness of King George V in 1902. In addition to his paintings, Collier was also a published writer. He authored several art books reflecting his works, including The Primer of Art in 1882 and The Art of Portrait Painting in 1902.