George and Hornel, Edward A. Henry Paintings

Edward Atkinson Hornel was a Scottish painter, one of the most prominent members of the group of artists known as the Glasgow Boys. Hornel was born on May 17, 1864, in Bacchus Marsh, Australia, but he moved to Scotland with his family when he was still a child and grew up in Kirkcudbright. He received his artistic training at the Edinburgh College of Art and later at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, where he was influenced by the work of James McNeill Whistler and the burgeoning Symbolist movement.

His work often featured richly colored, densely composed landscapes, and he was particularly known for his depictions of children set in lush garden or woodland settings. Hornel's style evolved over time, incorporating elements of Japonism and a distinctive technique that involved thickly applied paint, creating a tapestry-like texture. This method became a hallmark of his work, aligning him with the trend of British Aestheticism and earning him considerable success.

In 1893, Hornel collaborated with fellow Glasgow Boy George Henry on a significant project, a series of paintings inspired by the works of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet. This collaboration was a fruitful period for both artists, resulting in some of their most acclaimed works. Hornel continued to travel extensively, drawing inspiration from his visits to Japan in 1893-94 and later to Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) and Burma (Myanmar), which influenced his subject matter and palette.

Hornel settled in Kirkcudbright and became an integral part of the artistic community there. He was also a collector, and his home eventually became the Broughton House and Garden, which is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. Edward Atkinson Hornel never married and had no children. He lived a long life, immersed in his art, and passed away on February 30, 1933, in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. His legacy is preserved in the form of his contributions to Scottish art and his influence on the Celtic Revival in Scottish painting.