Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 42 works by James Hayllar in our catalogue
In short
Granville Sharp the Abolitionist Rescuing a Slave from the Hands of His Master (1864) is the James Hayllar painting that draws the most eyes. After it, the eye goes to All the world over and Edward Wells, High Steward of Wallingford (1886). Among the 42 works of James Hayllar in our catalog, these 42 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
The air in the room feels heavy, thick with the dust of legal parchment and the tension of a life hanging in the balance. A man in colonial attire stands with a steady, purposeful grace, his hand resting upon the shoulder of a figure caught in the grip of another. This is the moment of intervention. The setting is a courtroom, a space of rigid rules and wooden chairs, where…
All the world over is a work by James Hayllar. Born in 1829 in Chichester, United Kingdom, Hayllar established himself as a significant figure in the Victorian era. His practice focused on genre scenes and portraiture, often capturing the quietude of domestic life and the English landscape.
This formal portrait, titled Edward Wells, High Steward of Wallingford, was painted by James Hayllar about 1886. The canvas captures a man of significant local standing, a figure defined by the weight of his civic duties and his commercial influence. Wells was a banker and a brewer, a man whose life was woven into the economic fabric of his community. His presence in the portrait reflects the gravity of a…
The Invalid by James Hayllar presents a black and white depiction of two figures situated within a room. A woman occupies a chair, positioned with her head lowered. Standing beside her, a man holds a bowl. The arrangement of the subjects suggests they are engaged in a shared meal or a conversation. The scene is composed of several objects that provide context to the domestic setting, including a clock mounted…
Lunch Time
12
In The Month Of June
13
The Picture Gallery at the Hall
14
Waiting for Pierre
15
The Letter
16
May Day
17
Little Rosebud
18
Returning from the Ball
19
Miss Lily's First Flirtation
20
The young gardener
21
Grandfather's little nurse
22
Waiting to go out
23
Happy is the bride the sun shines on
24
The old master
25
Guilty Or Not Guilty
26
Wedding bells
27
Two Ladies Riding Side-saddle
28
Reading For Grandmother
29
Gone but not Forgotten
30
'Never Too Late to Learn'
31
A helping hand
32
The coquette
33
Miss Lily's Return from the Ball
34
Plagues of the garden
35
A Stitch In Time
36
As the twig is bent so is the tree inclined
37
Miss Lily's Carriage Stops the Way
38
The Thorn
39
The Wandering Minstrel
40
The centre of attraction
41
Keeping out of the cold
42
LunchtimeBolton Museum And Art Gallery
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 4 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by James Hayllar | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 National Gallery of Canada |
Ottawa | 2 | A Family Group, Going to the Ball |
 Nottingham City Museums And Galleries |
Nottingham | 1 | The Invalid |
 Atkinson Art Gallery Collection |
Southport | 1 | Happy Is the Bride |
 Bolton Museum And Art Gallery |
Bolton | 1 | Lunchtime |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
The air in the room feels heavy, thick with the dust of legal parchment and the tension of a life hanging in the balance. A man in colonial attire stands with a steady, purposeful grace, his hand resting upon the shoulder of a figure caught in the grip of another. This is the moment of intervention. The setting is a courtroom, a space of rigid rules and wooden chairs, where…
This formal portrait, titled Edward Wells, High Steward of Wallingford, was painted by James Hayllar about 1886. The canvas captures a man of significant local standing, a figure defined by the weight of his civic duties and his commercial influence. Wells was a banker and a brewer, a man whose life was woven into the economic fabric of his community. His presence in the portrait reflects the gravity of a…
Granville Sharp the Abolitionist Rescuing a Slave from the Hands of His Master (1864). All the world over and Edward Wells, High Steward of Wallingford (1886) come next.
35 years old: Granville Sharp the Abolitionist Rescuing a Slave from the Hands of His Master dates from 1864, and James Hayllar was born in 1829.
Granville Sharp the Abolitionist Rescuing a Slave from the Hands of His Master, All the world over, Edward Wells, High Steward of Wallingford, The Invalid, Going to Court, A Family Group, Francis Bunting, Happy Is the Bride, At the Ball and Going to the Ball. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 42 works by James Hayllar, dated from 1863 to 1890.
Mostly in National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa), Nottingham City Museums And Galleries (Nottingham) and Atkinson Art Gallery Collection (Southport). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1860s: 3 of the 42 works on this page were made then, Granville Sharp the Abolitionist Rescuing a Slave from the Hands of His Master among them.
On this page, the earliest is Going to Court (1863) and the latest Happy Is the Bride (1890).
Man (3), Woman (3) and Domestic scene (3), across the 42 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 3 of the 42 works on this page.
Contemporary realism and Victorian genre painting, judging by the originals on this page.
A Family Group and Going to the Ball: the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa holds 2 of the works on this page.
In the heart of the Victorian era, a period defined by both rigid social structures and a burgeoning romanticism for the pastoral, the works of James Hayllar offered a window into a world of profound tranquility. Born in 1829 in the historic setting of Chichester, Sussex, Hayllar emerged as a painter who could masterfully navigate the complexities of human character and the quiet beauty of the English landscape. His artistic journey began with rigorous formal training at Cary’s Art Academy in London—an institution that had famously nurtured masters like Millais and Rossetti—before he refined his technical command at the prestigious Royal Academy Schools. This foundation allowed him to develop a style that was both technically precise and emotionally resonant, capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow that define the British genre tradition.
While Hayllar’s early career saw him gaining recognition as an accomplished portraitist, capable of rendering the dignity and individual essence of his subjects, it was his transition into genre painting that truly captured the Victorian imagination. He possessed a unique ability to transform everyday domesticity into something poetic and timeless. His canvases often featured charming young girls engaged in quiet, contemplative activities, set against backdrops of idyllic rural life. These scenes were more than mere depictions of habit; they were idealized reflections of a period seeking solace in the simplicity of family and the enduring charm of the countryside. Through his brush, the mundane became monumental, imbued with a sense of peace that offered an escape from the rapid industrialization of his age.
The Hayllar name was not merely one of individual achievement but part of a larger tapestry of familial creativity. James Hayllar fostered an environment where art was a shared language, passing his expertise down to his children. His daughters—Edith, Jessica, Mary, and Kate—all emerged as notable painters in their own right, each contributing to the rich artistic legacy of the family. This domestic workshop of talent ensured that the principles of fine art were woven into the very fabric of his household life, creating a lineage of excellence that extended far beyond his own personal triumphs.
One of the most significant milestones in Hayllar’s professional life occurred in 1887, a year of great national celebration. To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, Hayllar collaborated with the artist George Dunlop Leslie on a monumental portrait of the monarch. This ambitious undertaking was a profound testament to his technical prowess and his standing within the artistic establishment. The resulting masterpiece, which continues to reside in Wallingford Town Hall, serves as a lasting symbol of his ability to marry the intimate charm of genre painting with the grandeur required for royal commemoration.
Throughout his long and productive life, Hayllar was a constant presence in the most esteemed exhibition halls of Britain. From the Royal Academy and the British Institution to the Royal Society of British Artists, his work was frequently showcased to the public, earning him a reputation as an amiable man and a dedicated contributor to his local arts communities in Wallingford and Bournemouth. His influence can be traced through the many prestigious collections that now house his works, including:
As the nineteenth century gave way to the twentieth, Hayllar’s work remained a cornerstone of British genre art. He passed away in 1920, leaving behind a body of work that serves as a nostalgic and beautifully rendered chronicle of a bygone era. His paintings remain much more than historical artifacts; they are evocative explorations of innocence, domestic harmony, and the quiet majesty of the natural world, ensuring that his name remains etched in the annals of English art history.
