Edward Poynter biography in Biographies from the artzine on artrepublic.com

Edward Poynter was born in 1836 the son of the architect Ambrose Poynter. He trained in Italy where he was heavily influenced by the work of Michelangelo. Despite his great popularity he concentrated on his administrative work in the later part of his career being appointed the first Slade Professor of Fine Art at University College, London in 1871 where he remained for four years. He also worked as Director of the National Gallery (1894-1904) and President of the Royal Academy (1896-1918).