John Collier was a prominent British painter associated with the Pre-Raphaelite and late Victorian traditions. He is especially well known for his dramatic, psychologically intense portraits and mythological scenes. Collier adopted many of the Pre-Raphaelites’ ideals, including meticulous detail, rich color, and a strong narrative quality

Throughout his career, he became one of the most sought-after portrait painters in Britain, painting leading figures of his time, including scientists, writers, and members of high society.

In addition to portraits, Collier is celebrated for his mythological and literary subjects, often focusing on strong, tragic, or enigmatic female figures. His works frequently explore themes of fate, beauty, and moral conflict, rendered with a realism that appealed to Victorian tastes.

Most Popular Painting: Lady Godiva (1897)

Collier’s most famous and widely reproduced painting is Lady Godiva (1897). The work depicts the legendary Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to tradition, rode naked through the streets of Coventry to persuade her husband to reduce oppressive taxes on the townspeople.