"L'Allegro and il Penseroso" (painted for the Prince Consort), "Le Jour des Morts" and "A Scene from Don Quixote". As a young artist Horsley was patronised buy the collector John Sheepshanks, who bought two of Horsley's paintings: The Rival Performers (1839) and Youth and Age (1839), (1845) in the House of Lords, Henry V assuming the Crown, and Satan touched by Ithuriel's Spear while whispering evil dreams to Eve. He also produced three of the four full-page plates illustrating the Main Sacraments for the 1845 illuminated Book of Common Prayer designed by Owen Jones. In 1864 he became a Royal Academician (RA). Horsley had much to do with organizing the winter exhibitions of "Old Masters" at Burlington House after 1870. Horsley was rector and treasurer of the Royal Academy from 1875 to 1890 and 1882 to 1897 respectively. He earned the nickname 'Clothes-Horsley' for his opposition to the use of nude life models. When, during the 1880s, the example of the French Salon began to affect the Academy exhibitors, and paintings of the nude became the fashion, he protested against the innovation, and his attitude caused Punch to give him the sobriquet of "Mr J. C(lothes) Horsley" (a pun on clothes horse). He resigned from the academy in 1897, and became a "retired Academician". In 1843 Horsley designed the first ever Christmas card, commissioned by Henry Cole. It caused some controversy because it depicted a small child drinking wine. He also designed the Horsley envelope, a pre-paid envelope that was the precursor to the postage stamp. In 1856 Horsley was photographed at "The Photographed Institute" by Robert Howlett, as part of a series of portraits of "fine artists". The picture was among a group exhibited at the Art Treasures Exhibition in Manchester in 1857. Horsley was a member of the London-based Etching Club contributing illustrations to editions of "The Deserted Village" (Oliver Goldsmith and "Songs of Shakespeare". He also illustrated a number of other books including "Little Princes" by Eliza Slater (London: Henry G. Bohn, 1890). See also Greeting card Notes References Further reading Horsley, J. C. Recollections of a Royal Academician (London: J. Murray, 1903). External links J C Horsley online (ArtCyclopedia) J C Horsley biography and paintings(thesussexweald.org) J C Horsley paintings (Art Renewal Center Museum) Works by J C Horsley (Royal Academy of Arts) Works by J C Horsley (V & A, London) Biography and Christmas card history