The Life and Art of Alfred Provis
Alfred Provis was an English painter and draughtsman born in Chippenham, United Kingdom. After leaving Chippenham at an early age, he studied in London under the history and portrait painter John Wood. Throughout his career, Provis remained largely in London, though he traveled to North Wales, Brittany, and Normandy for several months at a time. He lived in Brentford Ealing and later in Kingston Lisle, where he was occupied with scenes of Berkshire. He died in Kingston Lisle.
His artistic focus centered on charming Victorian domestic interior scenes set within cottages and farmhouses. These genre paintings often featured ladies and children, rendered with a palette of luminous brown. His compositions frequently depicted everyday routines, such as reading, sewing, preparing meals, or childcare, alongside detailed objects like kitchen utensils, baskets of produce, and pets. Many of his works portrayed his own family, including his wife, Ellen Andrews, and his two daughters, Mary and Ellen Agnes.
Exhibitions and Collections
Provis was an active exhibitor, showing over 100 paintings between 1846 and 1876 at the Royal Academy, Suffolk Street, the British Institution, and the Society of British Artists. His works are preserved in several public collections, including:
