Edward John Poynter, President of the Royal Academy, 1880. During a visit to Rome in 1853, Poynter made the acquaintance of Lord Leighton, who encouraged him to study art further. He strongly admired contemporary French painting, and in 1857 became a pupil in the atelier of Charles Gleyre, where he met Whistler. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1861, and continued to exhibit annually until his death in 1919. He was elected RA in 1877, and president in 1896. He was appointed Slade Professor of Art, at University College London, in 1871. In 1875 he was appointed principal of the National Art Training School. He created works for such institutions as the Houses of Parliament and the South Kensington Museum.