Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Miles, George Francis
MILES, GEORGE FRANCIS, known as Frank Miles (1852–1891), painter, born on 22 April 1852, was sixth and youngest son of Robert Henry William Miles, rector of Bingham in Nottinghamshire, by Mary, daughter of the Rev. J. J. Cleaver (afterwards Peach); he was grandson of Philip John Miles, M.P., of Leigh Court, near Bristol. Miles studied art at home, being encouraged by his parents and family, who possessed strong artistic tendencies themselves. There are examples of their skill in art in the church at Bingham. Miles afterwards studied on the continent, and worked for some time in Wales, where he painted a picture, ‘An Ocean Coast, Llangravia, Carnarvonshire,’ which was well hung in the Royal Academy. He subsequently settled in London, first in Salisbury Street and later in Tite Street, Chelsea. His work soon gained repute, and several pictures found their way into the Royal Academy, one of them, ‘A Flower Girl,’ being purchased by the Prince of Wales. He had a good practice also as a portrait-painter, painting the Princess of Wales and other members of her family, besides such noted men as Charles Questel, J. L. Dyckmans, Nathan Hughes, and others. But he was best known for a series of pretty portrait studies of female heads, which were reproduced cheaply, and commanded an immense popularity and sale. He was a devoted student of Japanese art, and also of botany, which led him to study the flowers depicted by Japanese artists, and, by ascertaining the places whence they came, to introduce many for the first time into England. Miles was less successful as an artist in later days. He was popular in society, and was about to be married when he was afflicted by a cerebral malady, which proved incurable, and necessitated his removal to Brislington Asylum, near Bristol, on 27 Dec. 1887. A false report of his death was circulated soon after, but he lived on until 15 July 1891. He was buried at Almondsbury, near Bristol.
[Obituary notices in Nottingham Guardian, 2 March 1888, Magazine of Art, April 1888, &c.; private information.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.198
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 377 | ii | 8 f.e. | Miles, George F.: omit Edward l'Anson |