Walter Richard Sickert

Born May 31, 1860, in Munich; died Jan. 22, 1942, in Bath, Somersetshire. British painter and graphic artist; leading master of English impressionism.

The son of a Danish painter, Sickert lived in England after 1868. Beginning in 1881 he studied at the Slade School under Alphonse Legros; he was influenced by Whistler and Degas. He founded the New English Art Club in 1885 and 1886 and became president of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1928.

Sickert painted landscapes and scenes from contemporary life that were keenly observant and not without critical elements (Ennui, 1913–14, Tate Gallery, London). Many of his works were devoted to the theater; they are noted for their special compositional and lighting effects, precise line, rich colors, and broad technique.