Sculptor, painter and art teacher. Sheldon was an English artist who visited Australia during the late 1880s and early 1890s. Sheldon was a pupil of Rosa Bonheur, the best known female painter working in France during the 19th century, an artist well known for her realist studies of horses and animals.

During 1890 Sheldon was teaching painting from a studio at the back of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Victoria. One of Sheldon’s best known students at Ballarat was the landscape painter Percy Lindsay . The art historian William Moore in his book, Story of Australian Art received information from Lindsay about his early career which was later reproduced in Moore’s book. According to Moore, Sheldon came out to Australia to paint the 1890 Melbourne Cup winning horse, Carbine, for Mr Donald Wallace.

In May 1892 Sheldon exhibited a statue titled, Portrait of George Watson Esq., M.F.H., and Starter of the Victorian Racing Club, on his favourite Hunter, Cavalier in the Victorian Artists’ Society show in Melbourne. This statue is now in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria.

Little is known of Sheldon’s life and career. Prior to his trip to Australia, Sheldon was listed as working from a studio at Cheyne Gardens, Chelsea, London. This address was located in an area popular with artists at the time. The author of this DAAO entry notes that Sheldon is not included in Sally Mitchell’s 'Dictionary of British Equestrian Artists’.

Writers:

Clifford-Smith, Silas

Date written:

2008

Last updated:

2011