Eyre Crowe (painter)

Eyre Crowe ARA (3 October 1824- 12 December 1910), was a British painter and author, principally of historical art and genre scenes, but with an interest in social realism during the mid to late 19th century.

[5] Through his father’s work, Crowe was introduced to the liberal and artistic circles of both France and Expatriates from a young age.

[5] In childhood he personally knew William Makepeace Thackeray and the relationship continued long into his adult life.

[5] Throughout his life, Crowe stayed in contact with and occasionally worked for William Thackeray, who often assisted him financially in his youth.

[5] In the 1860s Crowe became and honorary member of the Saint John’s Wood artist clique and the Reform Club.

In 1846 Crowe had his first success in the British art world: Master Prynne searching Archbishop Laud’s pockets in the Tower which was exhibited in the Royal Academy.

[6] Shortly after, He was formally hired by Thackeray as a secretary and accompanied him on his trip to America in 1852, returning to Europe (Paris) in 1853.

[7][8] The painting is an oil on canvas depicting the workers of Victoria Mill cotton spinning factory taking their dinner hour.

[8] The painting was not originally well received by the public due to its unusually unromantic depiction of urban life for the time.