Lot Essay
E. R. Hughes was a nephew of the Pre-Raphaelite painter Arthur Hughes, under whom he first studied. He then entered the Royal Academy Schools and worked with William Holman Hunt, helping the elderly painter, whose eyesight was failing, to complete some of his later works. The best-known example is the large version of The Light of the World in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, which was begun in 1899, but Hughes also made changes to Hunt's portrait of his son Hilary (1886), which Christie's sold in London on 3 June 1994, lot 163. Hughes was in touch with Edward Burne-Jones and knew the poet and novelist George Macdonald, many of whose books for children were illustrated by his uncle, Arthur. For a time he was engaged to one of Macdonald's daughters, but she died before their marriage.
Hughes worked mainly in watercolor, painting subjects of a symbolist nature and obscure literary themes, often Italian in origin. An outstanding example, Bertuccio's Bride, an illustration to Le piacevole notte by Gian Francesco Straparola (died c. 1557), was sold by Christie's in London on 29 October 1991, lot 15. He also specialised in portraits, either in watercolor or, more frequently, red chalk.
Hughes exhibited regularly with the Royal Watercolour Society, becoming an Associate in 1891, a full member in 1895, and Vice-President (for two years) in 1901. He also showed at the Royal Academy from 1870 to 1911, and his picture Biancabella and Samaritana (another illustration to Straparola) was seen at the first Venice Biennale in 1895. For some years he was a popular teacher at London County Council evening classes. For most of his life he lived in London, but in 1913 he moved to St. Albans where he died the following year.
The present picture, first exhibited at the Royal Watercolour Society in 1908, shows him in his most romantic vein and may be compared to Night with her Train of Stars of 1912 (Birmingham City Art Gallery), which has become well-known since it was included in the Last Romantics exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery, London, in 1989. The nocturnal light effect is similar, and both pictures introduce a host of supernatural figures, putti in Night with her Train of Stars, fairies in Midsummer Eve. The mood and setting, however, are very different, Night being a sombre symbolist theme set in the sky, while Midsummer Eve is earth-bound, light-hearted and playful.
Hughes worked mainly in watercolor, painting subjects of a symbolist nature and obscure literary themes, often Italian in origin. An outstanding example, Bertuccio's Bride, an illustration to Le piacevole notte by Gian Francesco Straparola (died c. 1557), was sold by Christie's in London on 29 October 1991, lot 15. He also specialised in portraits, either in watercolor or, more frequently, red chalk.
Hughes exhibited regularly with the Royal Watercolour Society, becoming an Associate in 1891, a full member in 1895, and Vice-President (for two years) in 1901. He also showed at the Royal Academy from 1870 to 1911, and his picture Biancabella and Samaritana (another illustration to Straparola) was seen at the first Venice Biennale in 1895. For some years he was a popular teacher at London County Council evening classes. For most of his life he lived in London, but in 1913 he moved to St. Albans where he died the following year.
The present picture, first exhibited at the Royal Watercolour Society in 1908, shows him in his most romantic vein and may be compared to Night with her Train of Stars of 1912 (Birmingham City Art Gallery), which has become well-known since it was included in the Last Romantics exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery, London, in 1989. The nocturnal light effect is similar, and both pictures introduce a host of supernatural figures, putti in Night with her Train of Stars, fairies in Midsummer Eve. The mood and setting, however, are very different, Night being a sombre symbolist theme set in the sky, while Midsummer Eve is earth-bound, light-hearted and playful.