Arthur Devis

Arthur Devis, an 18th-century English painter, masterfully captured the idealized domestic lives of the gentry in his distinctive 'conversation pieces,' often featuring elegant figures leaning against pillars or strolling through imagined landscapes.

ABOUT

Born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1712, Arthur Devis embarked on his artistic journey under the tutelage of Flemish painter Peter Tillemans in London during the early 1730s. Initially, Devis's work leaned towards landscape, even copying Italian views, as seen in early commissions like a depiction of Hoghton Tower. However, by 1737, he had pivoted to portraiture, establishing a studio in Great Queen Street by 1745 and quickly gaining a significant reputation, particularly among…

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NOTABLE WORKS

Hornby Hall and Castle 1736 · Judges' Lodgings Breaking-Up Day at Dr Clayton’s School at Salford 1738 · Tate Portrait of a Woman Seated beside a Table 1739 · Museum of Fine Arts Boston Portrait of a Woman Standing in a Garden 1739 · Museum of Fine Arts Boston An Unknown Man in a Library 1740 · Yale Center for British Art The Trevelyan Conservation-piece: Sir John Trevelyan, 4th Bt (1735-1828) with his Wife Louisa Simond, Lady Trevelyan, his Son Sir John Trevelyan, 5th Bt (1761-1846) and his Daughter Helena Trevelyan 1740 · National Trust

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INFLUENCES

Influenced by

Peter TillemansTopographical Art / Landscape Marco RicciLandscape Painting