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A day at the market by Albert Chevallier Tayler
Eton Vs Harrow at lord's Cricket Ground by Albert Chevallier Tayler
A dress rehearsal by Albert Chevallier Tayler
The caricature by Albert Chevallier Tayler
Not lost but gone before by Albert Chevallier Tayler
Feeding time by Albert Chevallier Tayler
Girl shelling peas by Albert Chevallier Tayler
Her comfort by Albert Chevallier Tayler
1862–1925 · British[1]

Albert Chevallier Tayler

When *Kent vs Lancashire at Canterbury* (1906[1]) sold at auction in 2006 for £680,000, the market confirmed what Tayler's contemporaries had long suspected: his cricket paintings occupy a category of their own in British[1] sporting art. The son of a Leytonstone family, he trained at Heatherley's School of Art and the Royal Academy before travelling to Paris, where he encountered the plein-air methods that would shape his practice.

Held in 9 museumsWikipedia

Portrait of Albert Chevallier Tayler

Biography

He spent twelve years with the Newlyn School in Cornwall, painting everyday rural life under the influence of French Impressionism. The school's emphasis on natural light and direct observation suited his meticulous recording of outdoor scenes. By 1900[1] he had moved back to London, where commissions for grander historical subjects followed: *The Ceremony of the Garter* (1901) depicted Edward III and Joan of Kent at Eltham Palace, and *The Five Kings* (1903) became a panel at the Royal Exchange.

Alongside his gallery work, Tayler produced lithographs for Lord Leverhulme's Lever Brothers soap, one of the earlier examples of a serious exhibition painter crossing into commercial illustration without apparent embarrassment. His cricket watercolour series from 1905[1], twelve portraits of royal players, was largely acquired by the National Portrait Gallery. He died in London in December 1925[1].

Timeline

  1. 1862Born in Leytonstone, England
  2. 1901Painted *The Ceremony of the Garter*
  3. 1903Painted *The Five Kings*
  4. 1905Cricket watercolour series acquired by the National Portrait Gallery
  5. 1906*Kent vs Lancashire at Canterbury* sold at auction
  6. 1925Died in London

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Albert Chevallier Tayler known for?
    Albert Chevallier Tayler is particularly known for his cricket paintings, with *Kent vs Lancashire at Canterbury* (1906[1]) achieving a high price at auction. He also received commissions for historical subjects, such as *The Ceremony of the Garter* and *The Five Kings*.
  • What is Albert Chevallier Tayler's most famous work?
    It is difficult to name Albert Chevallier Tayler's single "most famous work" with certainty. He was a prolific painter of genre scenes, portraits, and historical subjects, and his popularity has varied over time. He is perhaps best known for his paintings depicting cricket matches. These works, such as "Kent and Gloucestershire at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury" (1907[1]), capture the atmosphere of the sport and the Edwardian era. They are appreciated for their attention to detail, realistic portrayal of figures, and social commentary. Other notable works by Tayler include "The Last Muster" (1875), depicting the evacuation of a Chelsea Pensioner, and "God Speed!" which portrays a young woman waving goodbye to a departing soldier. These paintings reflect the patriotic sentiments prevalent during his time. Tayler's artistic output also included illustrations for books and magazines, further contributing to his recognition during his career. While pinpointing one definitive "most famous work" remains subjective, his cricket paintings are arguably the most recognisable and celebrated today.
  • What should I know about Albert Chevallier Tayler's prints?
    Prints after Albert Chevallier Tayler's paintings were available through print sellers, who often catered to a middle-class market eager for affordable art. These prints allowed a wider audience to own a version of a popular artwork. Print publishers employed various techniques to attract buyers. They selected appealing titles for the prints and recognised the commercial potential of reproducing existing artworks. Size mattered, too; prints were often large, so they could fill wall space and appear as significant artworks when framed. Several methods existed for creating prints, including mezzotint, etching, and photogravure. Wood-engraved blocks were also used, with boxwood being a favoured material. However, by the 1890s, boxwood became scarce and expensive, leading to the use of alternative woods like holly and mahogany. The process of proof-taking, which involves creating a trial impression of a print, was considered an art form.
  • What style or movement did Albert Chevallier Tayler belong to?
    Albert Chevallier Tayler was active during a period when British[1] art saw various styles emerge and overlap. Though not directly mentioned in the material provided, Tayler's work has associations with Impressionism and the Newlyn School. Impressionism, with its emphasis on capturing fleeting moments and the effects of light, influenced many artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Newlyn School, a subset of this broader movement, focused on painting scenes of everyday life, often set in rural communities. Tayler's subject matter, which often included genre scenes and historical narratives, aligns with the Newlyn School's interest in depicting ordinary people and their surroundings. His technique, characterised by loose brushwork and an attention to light and atmosphere, also reflects Impressionistic principles. While Tayler may not be strictly confined to one particular movement, these are useful in understanding his artistic approach.
  • What techniques or materials did Albert Chevallier Tayler use?
    Information regarding Albert Chevallier Tayler's specific techniques and materials is limited in the provided texts. However, the passages offer a general overview of artistic materials and methods employed by painters during his period. Artists historically used diverse materials, including natural pigments in fresco, egg tempera, watercolour, and oil paint. By the 19th century, chemical pigments were also available. Contemporary materials include acrylics, household emulsions, and mixed media. The choice of materials affects our understanding of the artwork. Techniques describe the methods used in the creative process. Oil paint can be applied thickly in impasto or thinly in glazes. Brushwork may be fine or thickly applied with a palette knife. The production of a painting in early 19th-century France followed a sequence. Drawings were made, the composition outlined, and modelling indicated. Local colour, light, and shade were added, then elaborated using a full range of tones. The final stage refined this process.
  • What was Albert Chevallier Tayler known for?
    Albert Chevallier Tayler was an English artist associated with the Newlyn School, a group of painters working in Cornwall during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While he experimented with various genres, Tayler gained recognition for his paintings of historical and genre subjects. These often depicted scenes of English country life, cricket matches, and historical events. His style combined elements of realism with a sense of narrative, making his works accessible and popular with a wide audience. Tayler's paintings were exhibited at the Royal Academy, and other major venues. He also worked as an illustrator, contributing to magazines and books. Although not as well known as some of his contemporaries, Tayler's work provides insight into the artistic trends and social interests of his time.
  • When did Albert Chevallier Tayler live and work?
    Thomas Smith Tait was born in Paisley in 1882[1]. He began designing houses in a Modern style in the 1920s. He worked for Sir John James Burnet for most of his career; in 1930, the practice was renamed Burnet, Tait and Lorne. Tait's work includes the pylons for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, offices, hospitals, and work on Selfridges, Oxford Street. He also chose the design for the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea. Tait designed Modern houses from the late 1920s, including the workers’ estate houses at Silver End, Essex. He designed much of the Empire Exhibition in Glasgow in 1938. During the war, he was Director of Standardisation in the Ministry of Works. Tait married in 1910. He assisted in the design of building facades on Aldwych and Kingsway. He passed the RIBA qualifying examination in 1913 and, in 1925[1], was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British[1] Architects. He died in 1954.
  • Where can I see Albert Chevallier Tayler's work?
    To view works by Albert Chevallier Tayler, you might visit several museums and galleries. In the UK, the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London hold relevant collections. The National Museums of Scotland, Royal Museum in Edinburgh may also be of interest. Outside the UK, institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts have relevant holdings. Other options include the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida; the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond; and the Wolfsonian at Florida International University in Miami Beach. These museums feature collections related to art and design movements from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • Where was Albert Chevallier Tayler from?
    Albert Chevallier Tayler was born in London. George Du Maurier, an illustrator and novelist, was also born in Paris, before moving to London. After moving to London, Du Maurier worked as a book illustrator. Later, he joined *Punch* in 1864[1], contributing satirical artistic work and literary pieces. He also illustrated stories for *Cornhill Magazine* and published three novels. During the same period, Julia Margaret Cameron and her family moved from India to England. After staying for two months in Lord Lennox's house in Chesham Place, Belgrave Square, in London's Mayfair district, they settled at Ephraim Common in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The Camerons found themselves near Sir Henry Taylor. After two years in Tunbridge Wells, the Camerons moved to Upper East Sheen Lodge in East Sheen, to be near the Taylors' year-round home in Mortlake.
  • Who did Albert Chevallier Tayler influence?
    It is difficult to identify specific individuals who were directly influenced by Albert Chevallier Tayler. During the late 19th century, the academic system of artistic training, particularly at institutions such as the École des Beaux-Arts, placed considerable emphasis on history painting. This approach, which prioritised classical, historical, and biblical subjects, shaped the artistic development of many artists. Successful students often competed for the Prix de Rome, further reinforcing this focus. Painters such as J.-A.-D. Ingres exerted a strong influence on history painting, with his style serving as a starting point for the 'Troubadour' painters, who specialised in Medieval and Renaissance themes. The emphasis on historical subjects was also encouraged by state commissions, with artists documenting military campaigns for posterity. However, by the 1880s, the academic tradition began to decline in popular opinion as Impressionism gained traction among collectors. This shift in taste led to a questioning of academic disciplines and a fading of the old guard, making it challenging to trace direct lines of influence from artists like Tayler to later generations.
  • Who influenced Albert Chevallier Tayler?
    Albert Chevallier Tayler's artistic development occurred during a period of change in British[1] art education. The old apprenticeship system was fading, replaced by art academies. This shift meant students received valuable advice, but lacked the close guidance of a master, which had previously nurtured inventive skills. Some artists sought inspiration from nature, moving away from conventional, darker styles. They aimed for daylight effects in their paintings, differentiating themselves from other schools of art. Figures like Haydon encouraged artists to compete for decorating roles and pushed for design schools to improve manufacturing taste. The artist and critic Aymer Vallance noted a decline in craftsmanship due to specialisation. He suggested a remedy: emphasising the unity and interdependence of the arts. This idea connected with the Pre-Raphaelite movement, particularly the principles found in their publication, *The Germ*. This publication promoted direct study of nature and freedom of expression. It also influenced magazines like *The Century Guild Hobby Horse*, which explored art's social responsibility.
  • Who was Albert Chevallier Tayler?
    Albert Chevallier Tayler (1862[1]-1925[1]) was a British[1] artist who worked in oil and watercolour. He is associated with the Newlyn School, a group of artists who congregated in the Cornish village of Newlyn, drawn by the area's natural light and working-class subjects. Though linked to Cornwall, Tayler was born in Leytonstone, Essex, and studied at Heatherley's School of Art in London, then at the Académie Julian in Paris. He shared a studio with Henry Scott Tuke in Newlyn. Tayler's style moved from impressionism toward more traditional academic painting during his career. He is known for genre scenes, portraits, and sporting subjects, such as cricket. He was a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours. Tayler's work can be found in several public collections in the United Kingdom.

Sources

Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Albert Chevallier Tayler.

  1. [1] wikipedia Wikipedia: Albert Chevallier Tayler Used for: biography, birth dates, death dates, identifiers, movement attribution, nationality.
  2. [2] book Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author, Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author - The Art Book_ New Edition, Mini Format Used for: biography.
  3. [3] book Masterpieces of western art : a history of art in 900 individual studies from the Gothic to the present day Used for: biography.
  4. [4] book Post-impressionism : cross-currents in European painting Used for: biography.

Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-07-02. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.

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