A wonderful half-length portrait of a girl seated on a bench holding a writing board and pencil. The girl, who wears a white smock over a red dress, is depicted with her eyes cast downwards as she ponders her schoolwork. Pictured to the bottom left are two exercise books, one of which lies open. An inkwell can be seen on the open shelf above, whilst a well-worn jacket hangs on the opposite wall, perhaps belonging to the teacher or another pupil.

Charles Sillem Lidderdale was born in St Petersbury, Russia on 28 September 1830 to John Lidderdale and his wife Ann (née Morgan). His father was a merchant banker originally from Scotland and his mother was a British subject born in Russia. It is likely he was educated in England along with his brother William Lidderdale (1832-1902), who later became Governor of the Bank of England. In 1843, the family left Russia for England where they lived in London. Tragically, his mother died shortly after the move and his father passed away just 2 years later in 1845.

Lidderdale continued residing in London after his parents’ death where he lived in Kensington. In July 1849 he entered the Royal Academy School under the recommendation of R Ansdell, most likely the artist Richard Ansdell who lived near him at the time. In 1856, he began exhibiting at the RA becoming a regular contributor throughout his life. He exhibited at the British Institute from 1851 and the Royal Society of British Artists from 1861.Much of his work consisted of genre scenes and enigmatic portraits of ordinary women or girls, often engaged in activities or set against a landscape backdrop.

He married Keziah Morris in 1862 and the couple went on to have 3 children together. They spent the first few years of married life at 38 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden. They moved a number of times over the subsequent years before settling at 117 Abbey Road in Hampstead around 1873. Lidderdale is known to have suffered an issue with his eyesight at some point in his life, which although was treated, left him unable to work in watercolours. Despite this, he still was able to achieve considerable success and in 1875 he was elected a member of the RSBA.

Sometime during the late 1880’s he made his final move to 76 Park Road in Hampstead. He died at his home in Park road on 7 June 1895 and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. Many of Lidderdale’s diaries, account books and notebooks are held by the Victoria & Albert Museum in their National Art Library. His works are represented in many public art collections including the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Herbert Art Gallery, Laing Art Gallery, National Museum Cardiff, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery, Sheffield Museum, Shipley Art Gallery and Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

© Benton Fine Art