Edward Clifford was a British painter and watercolourist associated with the Aesthetic Movement. Born in Bristol, he studied at the Royal Academy Schools and became known for portraits, landscapes and historical subjects, attracting a number of aristocratic patrons.
Clifford was deeply influenced by Edward Burne-Jones and belonged to the circle of young artists disparagingly labelled the “Poetry Without Grammar School” by contemporary critics. He particularly admired Burne-Jones’s interpretation of Italian Renaissance art, while the influence of Bernardino Luini can be seen in the expressive eyes and idealised features of his figures. Clifford also produced faithful copies of several early works by Burne-Jones, sometimes at the artist’s request. victorianweb.org
Alongside his artistic career, Clifford was strongly religious and worked with the Church Army. His travels took him to India, Kashmir and Hawaii, where he visited communities affected by leprosy and produced portraits connected with his journeys.
Illustrated: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
