James Macallan Swan was born at 51 High Street, Old Brentford, Middlesex on 9 December 1846 and by the mid-1850s had moved to Worcestershire. He studied art at Worcester School of Art; Lambeth School of Art; the Royal Academy Schools and at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, under Jules Bastien-Lepage (1848-1888), P.A.J. Dagnan-Bouveret (1852-1919) and Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904). He also received lessons in the sculpting of animal subjects from Emmanuel Frémiet (1824-1910) Following his return to England he worked almost exclusively as an animal sculptor and painter. He exhibited frequently at the Royal Academy in London from 1878 to 1904. He also exhibited at Agnew & Sons Gallery, Carfax & Co. Gallery, Dudley Gallery, Goupil Gallery, International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, New Gallery, and at the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours in London: the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool; Manchester City art Gallery; Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin; and at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh.
Swan was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARA) in 1894; a Royal Academician (RA) in 1905; an Associate of the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours (ARWS) in 1896; a full member of the Society (RWS) in 1899; and a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 1905. He was also elected a member of the Art Workers Guild in 1887.
His painting "The Prodigal Son" was purchased by the Chantrey Bequest and given to the Tate, London in 1889.
He died on 14 February 1910. At the time of his death his address was given as 3 Acacia Road, St. John's Wood, London and Thatches, Niton, Isle of Wight, Hampshire.
Text source: Arts + Architecture Profiles from Art History Research net (AHRnet) https://www.arthistoryresearch.net/
