Harry Fidler (1856–1935) was a British painter known for including farm animals and especially horses in his impressionistic paintings, typically using heavyimpasto. He married Laura Clunas (d. 1936), who was an artist with a similar style.

Fidler was born to a farming career in Wiltshire in 1856,^[1] inTeffont Magna.^[2] He did not train as an artist until his early thirties. He was the ninth of ten children^[1] with a number of artistically gifted siblings. Fidler attendedHerkomer's School atBushey which was a Hertfordshire school later well known for animal painting.Herkomer boasted of the wide variety of styles of his students who were encouraged to paint from life and ignore intellectual art theories.^[3] His students includedWilliam Nicholson andLucy Kemp-Welch.

On a second visit to Bushey in 1898, Fidler met and married Laura Clunas. (according to another source they did not marry until 1918).^[3] Fidler had a studio in an old Methodist Chapel inTeffont Magna and their first home was in Salisbury. He and his wife visited the Art Society inSt Ives, Fidler painted there and they may have been members.^[1][4]

Fidler frequently included farm animals and especially working horses in his paintings with a heavy style.^[3] He frequently used poor quality canvas and inadequate ground which means that his work can require early restoration. He joined theRoyal Institute of Oil Painters and theRoyal Society of British Artists. He successfully exhibited several large canvases at theRoyal Academy.^[1]

Fidler died atStoke nearAndover in 1935. He has paintings in several public collections includingDerby Museum, thePotteries Museum & Art Gallery,^[5] Watford Museum, the Smith Art Gallery at Brighouse and theGrundy Art Gallery in Blackpool. Harry and his wife Laura^[6] have paintings atCartwright Hall, the art gallery in Bradford.^[2] Laura Fidler died in 1936 and her work has on occasion been wrongly attributed to her husband.^[7]

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• 1856 births
• 1935 deaths
• Artists from Wiltshire
• 19th-century English painters
• English male painters
• 20th-century English painters
• 20th-century English male artists
• 19th-century English male artists

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