Sir Frank Dicksee

Frank Dicksee painted romantic scenes from legend, literature and history: knights and ladies, doomed lovers and moments of chivalry, all in rich, glowing colour and polished late Victorian finish. He also painted fashionable society portraits.

He was born in London in 1853, trained first by his father Thomas Dicksee and then at the Royal Academy Schools. His Harmony of 1877, a young woman at an organ with a man listening, was bought for the nation and hangs at Tate Britain. Other major works include The Funeral of a Viking in Manchester Art Gallery and La Belle Dame sans Merci. He became President of the Royal Academy in 1924 and was knighted in 1925.

Chivalry, with a knight freeing a woman tied to a tree, and Miranda show his love of literary drama. Look at the gleaming armour and rich fabrics. He died in London in 1928.