14 August 1840 – 20 April 1920
Briton Rivière R. A. was a distinguished British artist known primarily for his captivating animal paintings. Of Huguenot descent, Rivière was born in London and demonstrated an early affinity for art, a passion inherited and nurtured by his family. His father, William Rivière, served as a drawing master at Cheltenham College and later as an art teacher at the University of Oxford. Briton Rivière received his education at these institutions, earning his degree from Oxford in 1867. His formal art training was largely under the tutelage of his father, although his paternal uncle, Henry Parsons Rivière, a notable watercolourist, also influenced his artistic development.
Rivière’s first exhibited works appeared at the British Institution, and by 1857 he had three pieces displayed at the Royal Academy. However, it was not until 1863 that he became a regular contributor to the Academy’s exhibitions, showcasing works such as “The Eve of the Spanish Armada” and “Romeo and Juliet”. Despite the early success with these historical and literary subjects, Rivière’s true passion lay in animal painting. This shift in focus began with his 1865 piece, *Sleeping Deerhound*, marking the start of a prolific career dedicated to portraying animals.
In an illuminating interview in Chums Boys Annual titled “How I Paint Animals,” Rivière detailed his approach to capturing both tame and wild animals on canvas. A lover of dogs, Rivière admitted that his extensive work with them led to a certain weariness but emphasized the necessity of affection for one’s subjects to accurately paint them. He highlighted the challenges of working with various breeds, noting the restlessness of collies, greyhounds, and fox terriers. Rivière also shared his method for painting wild animals, which involved accumulating numerous studies and an in-depth understanding of the species. His process included working with both live and deceased animals, sometimes utilizing specimens from the Zoological Gardens’ dissecting rooms to ensure anatomical accuracy.
Early in his career, Rivière made a notable impact as an illustrator, contributing to “Punch”. His artistic achievements were formally recognized when he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1878 and a Royal Academician in 1881. In 1891, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Civil Law at Oxford. Despite a narrow defeat in the 1896 election for President of the Royal Academy, Rivière’s legacy remained influential.
Rivière’s wife, Mary Alice Rivière (née Dobell), was also a painter, exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1869-70. After his death, she donated four of his drawings and an etching to the British Museum, complementing the extensive collection of prints made after his works by artists like Frederick Stacpoole and William Henry Simmons.
The couple had seven children, five sons and two daughters. One son, Hugh Goldwin Rivière, followed in his father’s artistic footsteps as a portraitist. Another son, Evelyn, married Joan Riviere, an eminent psychoanalyst and translator of Sigmund Freud.
Briton Rivière’s work remains a testament to his profound understanding of animal anatomy and his ability to convey their essence on canvas, securing his place as a revered figure in British art history.
