Claude Andrew Calthrop
(December 1845 - 1893)
Born near Spalding, Lincolnshire, he began his art education under Mr. Sparkes at Lambeth, and was afterwards a student at the Royal Academy Schools, where he won the gold medal for historical painting. He also worked in Paris and Rome. Among his more important pictures are "From Generation to Generation," the "Last Song of the Girondists," and two pictures from the "School for Scandal." No. 1921. Scottish Jacobites." Such being the state of affairs when war was declared betwixt England and Spain, in 1740, seven daring Scottish Jacobites signed an association engaging themselves to risk their lives and fortunes for the restoration of the Stuart family, provided that France would send a considerable body of troops to their assistance. The Titular Duke of Perth, the Earl Traquair, Lochiel, and Lovat, were of the number who signed this association. The others were Sir James Campbell of Auchinbreck, John Stuart, brother of Lord Traqnair, and Lord John Drummond, uncle to the Duke of Perth." -- ("Tales of a Grandfather.") The Jacobites are seated at a long table in an oak panelled hall hung with antlers; a decrhourd sniffs suspiciously at the open door. Signed C. C. On canvas. Presented by Mrs. Calthrop in 1903.
 Portrait of Louise Calthrop |
 Portrait of Everard Calthrop |
 Portrait of Hope Calthrop |
A noted British painter of genre and historical subjects, had his artistic training at the Royal Academy Schools in South Kensington and at Marlborough House. His teacher and mentor was John Charles Lewis Sparkes.
Calthrop maintained a studio in London and was a frequent contributor to the leading exhibitions of his time. His paintings were shown at the Royal Academy, the British Institution and the Society of British Artists, Suffolk Street. He began exhibiting in 1867 and continued until 1893, the year of his death at the age of forty-eight. The paintings he showed at the Royal Academy included portraits and social realist subjects, particularly involving seamstresses. One of the leading art critics of the later part of the nineteenth century in Great Britain, John Ruskin, praised his painting "Getting Better" which he showed at the Royal Academy in 1875. He also lived and had a studio in Paris for a time, and it was there that he exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Francais.
A brother of the celebrated actor, John Clayton and a pupil of John Sparkes, and of the Royal Academy where he gained the Gold Medal for historical work. He completed his art education in Paris, and always painted pictures of a dramatic or anecdotal tendency, which interested the public. He died suddenly at the beginning of the year 1893, aged 48.
