Eloise Harriet Stannard Sold at Auction Prices

Früchtemaler, Still life painter, Painter

Eloise Harriet Stannard (1829–1915) was a British 19th century painter known for her still life work. She was one of only two notable women artists associated with the Norwich School of painters, Britain's first provincial art movement.

Eloise Harriet Stannard was born in Norwich, Norfolk, on 1 February 1829, and christened on 12 February at St Peter Parmentergate, Norwich.[1] She was one of the fourteen children of landscape painter and drawing teacher Alfred Stannard and Martha Stannard (née Sparks).[2][3] Her uncle was the painter Joseph Stannard; both her father and her uncle were members of the Norwich School of painters, Britain's first provincial art movement. Eloise and her aunt Emily Coppin Stannard (Joseph's wife) would become the only two notable women artists associated with the Norwich School.[3]

Stannard was probably trained as an artist by her father, and her style was influenced by traditional Dutch still life painting, especially the artist Jan van Huysum.[2] Her subjects were mainly fruits—particularly fruits not grown in England—piled in baskets and bowls, set against a monochrome background in natural light and sometimes accented with small insects. Her fine brushwork and multiple paint layers produced a characteristically luminous surface. Stannard is today considered one of Britain's most gifted still life painters.[2][3]

Stannard suffered from poor health but still maintained an active career as a painter, exhibiting regularly and becoming so successful that she never needed to take in pupils, as was often the case for women artists in the 19th century.[2] She began exhibiting in 1852, showing at the British Institution (1852–1866), the Royal Academy of Art (1856–1993), the Royal Society of British Artists (1856), and the Royal Glasgow Institute (1861).