Herbert James Draper (1863 – 1920) was an English artist known for his historical and mythological works, as well as his portraits of his contemporaries. Draper was born in London in 1864. In 1884 he began studying at the Royal Academy Schools. In 1887 he won a prize of £40 as a decorator. Draper travelled to Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Holland and Belgium.

He worked in Paris, at the Academie Julian in 1891 and rented a studio in Rome in the winter of 1891-1892. Returning home, he opened a studio in Kensington. He exhibited his works at the Royal Academy from 1887. His first public success came with the painting “The Sea Maiden”, exhibited at the Academy in 1894. He became a popular artist of the time. A retrospective exhibition was held in 1913. Draper died on September 22, 1920 in London. Although Draper received recognition during his lifetime, his works are now largely forgotten and rarely found at auction. Unfortunately, he is not as popular today as, say, William Waterhouse, but his paintings are no less magical and delightful.