Born in England, Richard Caton Woodville Jr. was an artist illustrator and military painter and also the son of a famous American artist, Richard Caton Woodville (1825-1855). The son was born after the death by an accidental morphine overdose of his father.

Woodville Jr. studied at the Royal Academy of Dusseldorf, 1872-1875, but left because of a scandal involving him and the daughter of actress Jenny Lind. He completed his training at the Royal Academy in London and then became a special artist for the Illustrated London News. At the London Royal Academy, he also exhibited huge historical battle paintings, which brought "lavish tributes and the favor of Queen Victoria although she did not approve of his many...