William Maw Egley was a notable British painter, born on March 26, 1826, in London, England. He was the son of William Egley, who was an accomplished miniature painter and one of the earliest photographers. Under his father's guidance, Egley developed an interest in the arts at a young age and followed in his father's footsteps by pursuing a career as an artist.
Egley's early works were primarily genre paintings, depicting scenes of everyday life with a focus on historical accuracy and attention to detail that was characteristic of the Victorian era. He showed great promise and was encouraged to exhibit his work. His painting 'Omnibus Life in London' was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1859 and received considerable attention, marking a significant point in his career.
Although Egley never became a member of the Royal Academy, he was a regular exhibitor there, and his paintings were well received by the public and critics alike. His style was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of English painters, poets, and critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The Pre-Raphaelites focused on the meticulous depiction of nature and a return to the detail and complex compositions of Quattrocento Italian art.
Egley's meticulous approach to his work often meant he spent long periods of time on a single painting, and as a result, his output was not as prolific as some of his contemporaries. Despite this, he enjoyed a certain level of commercial success and his paintings were sought after by Victorian collectors.
As the 19th century progressed, public taste in art began to change, and Egley's style fell out of fashion. He continued to paint but with less frequency and his later years were not marked by any significant artistic developments.
William Maw Egley died on January 25, 1916, leaving behind a legacy of work that provides a window into the Victorian era. His paintings remain of interest to scholars and collectors of Victorian art, and his work is held in several public collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
