Portrait of Camille, daughter of Sutton Palmer

Camille Sutton Palmer, later Mrs Wyatt, was the daughter of Maude Moore and Harry Sutton Palmer. Dicksee was her godfather. Dicksee entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1870, and was taught by both Millais and Leighton, proving a model student who won gold and silver medals. He began to exhibit at the R.A. in 1876, and it was always his spiritual home, although he also supported the Grosvenor Gallery and other institutions. His name was made with Harmony (Tate), exhibited in 1877; a winning combination of sentimental theme, 'aesthetic' decor and academic technique, it was hailed as the 'picture of the year' and became one of the first works bought for the Chantrey Bequest. He was elected A.R.A. in 1881 and R.A. ten years later. In addition to literary and historical subjects, he specialised in scenes of social drama such as The Crisis (1891; Melbourne) and The Confession (1896; private collection). He was elected President of the Royal Academy in 1924.