Alfred De Breanski was a distinguished landscape painter who became famous for his resplendent views of the Welsh and Scottish Highlands; he also painted many views of the Thames. Often bathed in a flood of golden light, these landscapes usually feature water and cattle or sheep on grassy banks; sometimes a solitary figure is seen the distance.

Breanski belonged to the real stamp of those landscape painters who nimbly seized moments of the day. He had a great passion for the Highlands and perhaps more than any other, caught the atmospheric influences of the undulating landscape.

Born in Greenwich, London, Alfred was the eldest son of Leopold Breanski; his younger brother and sister, Gustave and Julie, were also painters. He made his debut at the Royal Academy in 1872 and he continued to exhibit there until 1918. He also exhibited at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Cambrian Academy.

In 1873, Breanski married Annie Roberts, a talented Welsh artist whom he met during his frequent painting trips to Wales. They had seven children, two of which, Alfred Fontville and Arthur, were both to become painters. For much of his life Breanski lived in Greenwich, Lewisham and Cookham and in 1880 he became a Freeman of the City of London. His many patrons included Sir James Lemon and the Bishop of Peterborough, who purchased the first picture that he exhibited at the Royal Academy “Evening: Softly falls the even light”.

The work of Breanski is represented in several public collections including the Southampton Art Gallery and the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Sydney Museum in Australia holds ‘A Welsh Road – The Village Inn’.

He usually inscribed his pictures with the title and the date on the reverse.

Address: Cookham, Berks 1880

                 Greenwich 1883

                 London 1887

Exhibited: – Royal Society of Artists, Birmingham x 9

                   Dudley Gallery x 9

                   Grosvenor Art Gallery x 1

                   Glasgow Institute x 6

                   International Society x 4

                   Walker Art Gallery x 11

                   Manchester City Art Gallery x 2

                   Royal Academy x 24

                   Royal Society of British Artists x 40

                   Royal Cambrian Academy x 8

                   Royal Hibernian Academy x 2

                   Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours x 3

                   Royal Institute of Oil Painters x 12

                   Arthur Tooth and Sons Gallery x 12