Shayer Sr., William

William Joseph Shayer Sr., born in June 1787 in Southampton, England, was a prominent landscape and figure painter of the Victorian era. His artistic journey began with painting decorations on rush-bottom chairs, which evolved into painting carriages in Guildford, followed by heraldic painting. His exceptional talent eventually led him to oil painting, where he excelled in portraying scenes populated with gypsies, animals, and people in front of country inns and farmhouses, as well as beach scenes bustling with boats and fishermen.

Shayer's artistic endeavors were mainly centered in the south of England, particularly in Shirley, Southampton, but his work also extended throughout Hampshire and the New Forest. His paintings were well-received, and he found an enthusiastic patron in Michael Hoy, a wealthy Southampton merchant. Shayer's art was characterized by a remarkable depth and brightness, attributable to his skillful application of glaze, which involved spreading a thin, oily, transparent layer of paint over a dry opaque paint. This technique set his works apart from many of his contemporaries, with a style reminiscent of George Morland, another popular figure painter of the time.

Shayer's collaborations with other artists, notably Edward Charles Williams, were particularly successful. In these joint efforts, Williams would paint the landscape, and Shayer would add in people and animals. Examples of their collaborative work include "The Old Roadside Inn" and "Near Wantage, Berkshire."

Living a long life until the age of 92, Shayer married twice and had ten children. His eldest son, William Joseph Shayer Jr., also became a painter and often worked in a style very similar to his father's. His younger sons Edward Dasherwood Shayer, Henry Thring Shayer, and Charles Walker Shayer also became painters and occasionally assisted in their father's studio.

Shayer was a member of the Society of British Artists and exhibited extensively, showcasing 338 works at the Society's exhibitions from 1825 to 1870. He also displayed six works at the Royal Academy and 82 at the British Institution. His works are housed in several prestigious museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Tate Gallery, the Glasgow Art Gallery, and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

William Shayer Sr. passed away on 21 December 1879 at his home at Bladon Lodge near Southampton. His legacy in the world of 19th-century English landscape art is significant, marked by a diverse range of genre compositions and a mastery of depicting various facets of British life, from coastal and sea views to everyday scenes of townsfolk, farmers, and shepherds.