The Magic Crystal
(1894)
Sir Frank Bernard Dicksee (1853 - 1928) was the son and pupil of Thomas Francis
Dicksee (a painter and etcher,) and brother of Margaret Dicksee. Throughout the 1880s
and 1890s he painted historical, literary, biblical and allegorical subjects in a
lavishly-costumed and richly coloured style that earned him great success and
popularity.
Although he was not a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a number of his
paintings are very Pre-Raphaelite in subject matter and in technique.
He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1876, becoming successively ARA (1881), RA
(1891). In 1900 he was awarded a medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition. The year
Dicksee (a painter and etcher,) and brother of Margaret Dicksee. Throughout the 1880s
and 1890s he painted historical, literary, biblical and allegorical subjects in a
lavishly-costumed and richly coloured style that earned him great success and
popularity.
Although he was not a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a number of his
paintings are very Pre-Raphaelite in subject matter and in technique.
He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1876, becoming successively ARA (1881), RA
(1891). In 1900 he was awarded a medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition. The year
before his painting 'The Two Crowns' had been voted the most popular picture at the Royal Academy
summer exhibition. In 1924 he was elected to president of the Royal Academy, but this was seen by many as a
mere concession to his seniority as opposed to his position in the art world. By the end of his career he was
opposed to modernism of any kind and was regarded as old-fashioned by his contemporaries.
summer exhibition. In 1924 he was elected to president of the Royal Academy, but this was seen by many as a
mere concession to his seniority as opposed to his position in the art world. By the end of his career he was
opposed to modernism of any kind and was regarded as old-fashioned by his contemporaries.
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