Benjamin Haughton (artist)

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Benjamin Haughton RBA (13 September 1865–1924) was an English landscape painter. He was born in Little Sutton, Cheshire ^[1] and graduated from Caius College, Cambridge with a degree in chemistry in 1886.^[2][1][3] His father wished him to become a doctor^[3] but Benjamin decided to travel to the United States where he worked a number of jobs in Dakota during which time he started to paint.^[4] After a bout of rheumatic fever, he decided to return to Europe and become a landscape painter.^[4]

He studied under Joseph Walter West and from 1889 at Hubert von Herkomer's Art School at Bushey.^[5][6] He lived in several places in southern England, as well as Tuscany.^[3] In 1894, he married Janet Mason, with whom he had one daughter.^[2] He worked for a time as the manager of a military hospital in Exeter but the strain of the work lead to a "very severe" break down, beginning in October 1916, which permanently impacted his health.^[7][3] He died at his home in Devon in 1924.^[8]

His art encompasses a range of styles but focused on landscapes, particularly those featuring trees and woodland.^[3] Throughout his career he exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Society of British Artists, the Paris Salon and the New Gallery.^[8] He was associated with, but not formally part of, the Newlyn School.^[3] Fellow artist Herbert Alexander claimed, "I doubt if there ever was a landscapist who brought a deeper knowledge of nature to his art."^[8] The 50th anniversary and centenary of his death were commemorated at Portsmouth City Museum by exhibitions showcasing his work.^[3]