A Venetian Flower Girl

Samuel Luke Fildes (1843 - 1927), known as Luke Fildes, was born in Liverpool. He later moved to Chester and studied at the School of Art in Warrington. He left the School of Art to move to London, taking a scholarship at South Kensington, and lived in the city for the rest of his life. He began his career as a 'black-and-white' artist, creating illustrations for publications. Fildes visited Venice in 1881, and his 'Venetian Period' lasted sporadically for the next ten years.