Sydney Prior Hall, MVO,MA. was born Newmarket,18th.October 1842 and was educated at the Merchant Taylor’s School before going up to Oxford University. Studied under Arthur Hughes at the Royal Academy Schools. He joined the staff of The Graphic shortly after it’s foundation in 1869. Travelled widely including a trip of the British Empire with the Duke and Duchess of York on RMS Ophir in 1901. A book of his drawings was published in 1902 entitled “The Web of the Empire” detailing his trip on the RMS Ophir. Also a book illustrator including “Tom Brown’s School Days” (Macmillan 1885) “Tom Brown at Oxford” both by Thomas Hughes. An article on his work by Lewis Lusk was published in the Art Journal in 1905. Portraits by him are held in the National Portrait Gallery in London and other works held in galleries throughout the World.