December 23, 1832

Horatio Henry Couldery (christened December 23, 1832, died February 4, 1918) was a Victorian artist. He was famous for his animal portraits and scenes. His life is well documented and here is one write-up:


Horatio was originally apprenticed to a cabinet maker but following in his father’s footsteps, he realised his true vocation when, at the age of 23, he entered the Royal Academy Schools...

He exhibited many of his works at the Royal Academy of Arts in London between 1861 and 1892. Horatio was a prolific painter and his paintings reflect the typical late Victorian style with dark backgrounds, vignette settings and a real love of animals. 

He outlived one wife and a second bore him six children. Here is a representative and lovely piece, dated 1882, of  Coudery's art.

Some called Horatio Henry Caudery, ’Kitten Couldery’ "because of his many feline paintings but he also painted dogs, ducks, pheasants, rabbits, mice and fish."