Arthur John Elsley (1860–1952)[1] was an English painter of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, famous for his idyllic genre scenes of playful children and their pets.

[4] When only eleven years old, Arthur was turning out proficient animal studies made during frequent visits to the London Zoo in Regent's Park.

[3] His first known published work was a line engraving entitled "April Floods In Eastern Counties" printed in "Young England" magazine in 1885.

[3] Elsley was awarded a silver medal in the Crystal Palace exhibition of 1891 for his painting "The Bailiff’s Daughter of Islington".

[6] After the death of Charles Burton Barber (1845–1894), Elsley became his natural successor as the foremost painter of children and their pets.

[6] After this Elsley became bolder in his compositions, often depicting scenes with multiple figures, all from individual sitters visiting his studio.

[3] His prints were used commercially by many firms such as calendars by Thomas D. Murphy Co., Sunlight Soap, Brook's Sewing Cottons, Peek Freans biscuits & cakes; and Bibby’s Quarterly (an illustrated journal of country and home life).