Sir Samuel Luke Fildes (1843–1927) was a prominent British painter and illustrator of the Victorian period, trained at the South Kensington and Royal Academy schools. Initially known as a Social Realist illustrator for The Graphic magazine, his early work, such as "Applicants for Admission to a Casual Ward" (1874), powerfully depicted the struggles of the urban poor, a theme influenced by his politically active grandmother. By the 1880s, Fildes transitioned almost entirely to painting, where he became one of the most successful and highly paid Academic and Neo-Venetian portraitists in England, receiving numerous royal commissions, including the state portraits of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra—a lucrative stream of patronage. His most famous work, "The Doctor" (1891), commissioned by Sir Henry Tate, is a deeply emotional genre painting inspired by the death of his own son, capturing a moment of intense human compassion that remains an iconic image of dedicated medical care. Sunrays Creations' cross stitch charts allow you to bring Fildes's masterworks—from the rich, empathetic scenes of Victorian life to the lush, detailed portraits—into your home, transforming his powerful visual narratives and deeply felt emotion into a stunning, tangible piece of textile art.