Oscar Wilde: the Artist Not the Sitter
Oscar Wilde once said, “Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” This was true in Wilde’s life except he was not painting portraits, but rather creating wonderful literary works of art that people still enjoy today. All of his works portrayed Wilde’s talent and creativity.
Oscar Wilde was born on October 16, 1854, to two successful parents, Dr. William Wilde and Jane Francesca Elgee Wilde. Wilde’s father was a successful eye and ear doctor. He owned a practice in Dublin and specialized in eye and ear disease. Oscar Wilde’s mother Jane was known for her revolutionary poems and linguistic abilities. Together, Jane and William had three children. The oldest was William Wilde, who was born on September 26, 1852. Oscar Wilde was born two years later, and finally Isola Wilde was born three years after Oscar. Sadly Isola died at the age of ten from a sudden fever. The death of his sister greatly hurt Oscar. For the rest of his life, Oscar carried a lock of her hair sealed in an envelope. Oscar attended the Portora Royal School where he excelled in his studies. His strong-suit was the classics, and he won first place prizes his last two years in high school. Despite his parents’ success, Oscar Wilde went on to gain much success of his own in college and his career.
Oscar Wilde attended college at Trinity College in Dublin. He again excelled in his classics courses and later was awarded the highest undergraduate award. Wilde even finished first on his examinations. Finally in 1874, Wilde was awarded the Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek. He also received a Demyship scholarship to Magdalen College in Oxford. At Magdalen College, Oscar Wilde was applauded by his examiners. For his poem, “Ravenna,” Wilde was awarded the Newdigate Prize. After graduation Wilde moved to London in pursuit of a thriving career.
Living with a high-society portrait painter, Frank Miles, in London, Oscar Wilde published his first collection of
Oscar Wilde was born on October 16, 1854, to two successful parents, Dr. William Wilde and Jane Francesca Elgee Wilde. Wilde’s father was a successful eye and ear doctor. He owned a practice in Dublin and specialized in eye and ear disease. Oscar Wilde’s mother Jane was known for her revolutionary poems and linguistic abilities. Together, Jane and William had three children. The oldest was William Wilde, who was born on September 26, 1852. Oscar Wilde was born two years later, and finally Isola Wilde was born three years after Oscar. Sadly Isola died at the age of ten from a sudden fever. The death of his sister greatly hurt Oscar. For the rest of his life, Oscar carried a lock of her hair sealed in an envelope. Oscar attended the Portora Royal School where he excelled in his studies. His strong-suit was the classics, and he won first place prizes his last two years in high school. Despite his parents’ success, Oscar Wilde went on to gain much success of his own in college and his career.
Oscar Wilde attended college at Trinity College in Dublin. He again excelled in his classics courses and later was awarded the highest undergraduate award. Wilde even finished first on his examinations. Finally in 1874, Wilde was awarded the Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek. He also received a Demyship scholarship to Magdalen College in Oxford. At Magdalen College, Oscar Wilde was applauded by his examiners. For his poem, “Ravenna,” Wilde was awarded the Newdigate Prize. After graduation Wilde moved to London in pursuit of a thriving career.
Living with a high-society portrait painter, Frank Miles, in London, Oscar Wilde published his first collection of
Cited: 1. “The Official Web Site of Oscar Wilde.” Cmgww.com. Ed. Nicole Gately. CMG World Wide. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://www.cmgww.com/historic/wilde/>