W. Frank Calderon ROI
(British, 1865-1943)

Calderon was the third son of Philip Hermogenes Calderon, RA. He was educated at the University College School, and at fourteen he obtained the Trevelyan Goodall Scholarship, and later obtained the Slade Scholarship. His first picture to be exhibited at the RA, "Feeding the Hungry" was painted in 1881 and bought by Queen Victoria. He worked first in London, where he had a studio in his father's house, then spent a few years in the Midhurst district where he started his summer classes, returning to London on his marriage to Ethel, third daughter of H.H. Armstead, RA, in 1892.

His most notable achievement was the founding of his School of Animal Painting in 1894 at 54 Baker Street, London, where it remained until 1911 when he built a new school in conjunction with his own private house and studio at Kensington. The school was of great influence and many of the twentieth century horse painters studied there. Among his students were Cecil Aldin, Lionel Edwards, Lady Helena Gleichen, Frederick Whiting and C.E. Studdy, besides a good many, who, with already-established reputations came to him from time to time for the special purpose of studying animals.

Calderon painted landscapes, portraits and figure pictures as well as sporting scenes. He worked mainly in oil and his horses are some of the finest of his time. He had a thorough understanding of anatomy and he published a book, Animal Painting and Anatomy, in 1936. For two consecutive years he lectured, by invitation of the Council, to the students of the Royal Academy on animal anatomy, analysis of form and its relation to drawing.

His sporting scenes included horse shows, horse fairs, hunting and polo. He obtained a Gold Medal at the Paris Salon in 1906. His paintings are in the collections of the National Gallery of Brisbane, the McKelvie Trust of Aukland, NZ, The Coproration of Worcester and others.