A delightful genre painting of children with a model aeroplane by Harry Brooker. A boy can be seen standing at a table showing a rubber band model aeroplane to three other children. Rubber band powered or torsion powered aeroplanes became a popular toy during the late 1800’s.

Harry or Henry Brooker was born on 25 August, 1848 to Henry Brooker and Emma Hunt. His uncle was the artist Charles Hunt Jnr (1829-1900) and his cousins were Reuben Hunt (1858-1938), Claude Hunt (1863-1949), Walter Hunt (1861-1941) and Edgar Hunt (1876-1955). He lived with his family in Kensington, London and most likely attended school there. Given the similarities in subject matter it is not impossible that he was tutored by his uncle. By the age of 22, he was working as a full time artist and began exhibiting from around 1876 at the Royal Academy and Royal Society of British Artists, Suffolk Street. He specialised in genre scenes often including children at play.

He married Edmee Isabel Short on January 13, 1877 and they initially lived in Southport where he worked as a private art tutor. Around this time he also exhibited at the Royal Manchester Institution. The couple moved back to London where all 6 of their children were born. From 1891, he lived at Shorrold's Road, Fulham. He continued to paint and exhibit in London as well as at the provincial galleries including the Brighton Autumn Exhibition and the Smith Art Gallery until around 1920. He spent the remaining years of his life at 10 Richmond Park Road in Barnes. He died in London in 1940 and was buried in North Sheen Cemetery.

Examples of his work are held by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council and the Museum of the Home.

© Benton Fine Art