The Stand-Off (c.1870)

Strutt had painting in his genes.

He was born in Taranaki, New Zealand, the son of the English artist William Strutt. His grandfather was the miniaturist William Thomas Strutt (1777–1850) and his great-grandfather was Joseph Strutt (1742–1802), a social historian and artist. His father had moved to Australia in 1850 and then to New Zealand in 1855, where he recorded the early days of the British colony.

Strutt and his family returned to England in 1862. He studied at the Royal College of Art but also received tuition from his father. He exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1877 and was elected in 1889. A favourite of Edward VII’s, he accompanied the king on shooting trips. He was so good a photograph of him by Disdéri (circa 1880) is held by the National Portrait Gallery.

Alfred William Strutt’s work has been offered at auction multiple times, the record price for this artist at auction is 86,500 USD for A Lassie and Her Laddie sold at Sotheby’s New York in 2008.