Henry Wallis (1830-1916): From Pre-Raphaelite Painter to Collector/Connoisseur

The Death of Chatterton hangs from the wall of the Tate Britain, a resplendent depiction of tragedy. This is the canvas that earned Henry Wallis his lasting legacy. It embodies the Pre-Raphaelite aesthetic, from its morbid subject (Thomas Chatterton, a precocious 18th-century poet who poisoned himself to escape poverty, aged only seventeen), to its vibrant colorwork and detailed naturalism, characteristic of the first phase of Pre-Raphaelitism.

Despite this, no significant study has been dedicated to Wallis - until now. Henry Wallis: From Pre-Raphaelite to Collector/Connoisseur - delivers the first comprehensive appraisal of this often-overlooked Pre-Raphaelite. Composed of three parts - a biography, a catalogue raisonné and a series of important appendices - this book demonstrates the full range of Wallis's contributions to the world of Victorian art. The biography acknowledges Wallis's expertize as a colorist and draughtsman, while paying res.