Artur Loureiro

Artur Loureiro
Self-portrait (1925)
Born	11 February 1853 Porto, Portugal
Died	7 July 1932 (1932-07-08) (aged 79) Terras de Bouro, Portugal
Nationality	Portuguese
Known for	Painting
Notable work
Movement	Naturalism

Artur José de Sousa Loureiro (11 February 1853, in Porto – 7 July 1932, in Terras de Bouro) was a Portuguese painter.

He took his first lessons in drawing and painting from his friend António José da Costa (1840-1929). He later attended the Escola Superior de Belas-Artes do Porto, where he studied under João António Correia. In 1875, he went to Rome with the support of his patron Delfim Guedes (1842-1895), the future Count of Almedina.

In 1879, he moved to Paris with a scholarship to study at the École des Beaux-arts; living in the Latin Quarter and obtaining a position in the studios of Alexandre Cabanel. He exhibited at the Salon from 1880 to 1882, along with his fellow painters from Portugal João Marques de Oliveira, António Silva Porto, José Júlio de Souza Pinto, Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro and João Vaz. While in France, he met Marie Huybers (the sister of novelist Jessie Couvreur) and married her, even though marriage violated the terms of his scholarship. He sought another scholarship, but illness prevented him from submitting an entry. Afterwards, he moved to London, where his exhibits attracted attention, but his health required a warmer climate.

In 1884, he emigrated with Marie to her native Australia, although he spoke little English (he and Marie used French), and settled in Melbourne. The following year, he joined the first Australian Art Association, which merged with the Victorian Artists Society in 1888. He became a "Professor of Design" at the Presbyterian Ladies Academy, sat on several art juries and was named Inspector for the National Gallery of Victoria.