John Callcott Horsley was an English Academic painter of genre and historical scenes, illustrator, and designer of the first Christmas card. He was the son of the organist and composer William Horsley, and great-nephew of Sir Augustus Wall Callcott RA. Studied at Sass’s art school and the RA Schools. Painted portraits, literary and historical subjects, domestic genre (often in historical costume), and rural genre scenes. Exhibited 121 works at the RA between 1839 and 1896, and 11 at the BI 1837-50. Elected ARA 1855, RA 1864. Won prizes in the competitions for the decoration of the Palace of Westminster 1843, 1844 and 1847. Some of his works were engraved; he also contributed etchings to the publications of the Etching Club and drawings to Punch, and in 1843 designed the first Christmas card. Associated with the artist’s colony at Cranbrook, Kent, where he bought a house in 1858. At the RA, he was Rector 1875-90 (his campaign against the use of naked models in life classes earned him the soubriquet ‘Clothes-Horsley’), Treasurer 1882-97, and initiator and organiser of the first Winter Exhibitions of old masters. Died Kensington, 18 October 1903. The painter Walter Charles and architect Gerald Callcott were his sons.