William Edward Millner – A Lincolnshire Artist

Words by:
William Gregory MRICS
Featured in:
September 2011

The Victorian genre painting was a move towards illustrating everyday life, often featuring figures without specific identity or story. This change of fashion away from the previous portrait and landscape styles gave artists the ability to show all classes in their surroundings with the lives of the working people, in particular, being popular.

William Edward Millner is Lincolnshire’s Victorian genre artist. Born in Gainsborough in 1849, the son of a local teacher and artist, Millner was to live and work in the county until his death in 1895. With his life falling directly within the Victorian era his artistic work shows a concentration of influences from both his surroundings and the leading artists of the genre. This talent was recognised within his lifetime as his pictures were shown several times at the Royal Academy and since, with his works being held by leading public art galleries and a significant collection housed at Gainsborough Old Hall Museum.

The four works illustrated have been sold recently or are awaiting sale within Golding Young Thos Mawer Auctioneers specialist fine art sales. Typical of Millner’s work, they show country figures, rustic labourers, Lincolnshire village life and of course horses, for which he is possibly most admired.



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Grantham school joins Carol Service in celebration of town’s hospitalPupils from St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy are taking part in the first Carol Service to celebrate the special relationship Grantham and District Hospital has with the town and surrounding communities.The school children will join in the singing of favourite Christmas Carols as well as perform their own set musical piece at the Carol Service on Thursday 11th December at 7pm, in St Wulfram’s church, Grantham.Deputy Head Teacher Olivia Mumford said: “The Carol Service is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to share the joy of music while showing appreciation for the incredible work done at Grantham and District Hospital. It’s a privilege to support such an important event in our town."The Carol Service has been organised by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity, who work closely with staff at Grantham and District Hospital and provides those extras for staff and patients that NHS budgets are unable to fund. Further details on the Grantham NHS Carol Service can be found by visiting www.ulhcharity.org.uk/news/christmas-carols-at-grantham-st-wulfram-church-in-thanks-for-towns-sup... ... See MoreSee Less