William Frank Calderon

Who was William Frank Calderon?

William Frank Calderon aka W. Frank Calderon, was an English Victorian painter of portraits, landscapes, figure subjects and sporting pictures. He was the third son of the painter and Keeper of the Royal Academy in London, Philip Hermogenes Calderon and was married to Ethel Wells Armstead, third daughter of the noted sculptor Henry Hugh Armstead, RA.

When fourteen, Calderon was awarded the Trevelyan Goodall Scholarship and later a scholarship to the Slade School under Professor Alphonse Legros. He started the School of Animal Painting at 54 Baker Street, London, and acted as principal from 1894-1916. Some of his students were Cecil Aldin, Lionel Edwards, Alfred Munnings, Lady Helena Gleichen, Frederic Whiting and George E. Studdy. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1881–1921, and had his first Royal Academy painting bought by Queen Victoria. His book Animal Painting and Anatomy is still considered a useful reference source. He illustrated numerous books such as "The Most Delectable History of Reynard The Fox" edited by Joseph Jacobs and published by Macmillan in 1895. The cover, designed by A. A.