HOLL, FRANK (1845-1888), English painter, was born in London on July 4, 1845, and was educated chiefly at University College School. He was a grandson of William Holl, an engraver of note, and the son of Francis Holl, A.R.A. Entering the Royal Academy schools as a probationer in painting in 186o, he exhibited at the Academy in 1864 "A Portrait" and "Turned out of Church," a subject picture. "A Fern Gatherer" (1865) ; "The Ordeal" (1866) ; "Convalescent" (the somewhat grim pathos of which attracted much attention) and "Faces in the Fire" (1867), succeeded. Holl gained the travelling studentship in 1868; the successful work was characteristic of the young painter's mood, being "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away." Holl was much below Millais in portraiture. The range of his studies and the manner of his painting were narrower than those of Josef Israels, with whom, except as a portrait-painter, he may better be compared than with Millais.
In 1878 he was elected A.R.A., and exhibited "The Gifts of the Fairies," "The Daughter of the House," "Absconded" and a very fine portrait of Samuel Cousins now in the National Gallery, London. This last canvas is a masterpiece. Holl was elected R.A. in 1883 and in 1886 he produced a portrait of Millais as his diploma work, but his health rapidly declined and he died at Hampstead, on July 31, 1888. Holl's portraits include likenesses of Lord Roberts, painted for Queen Victoria (1882) ; the prince of Wales, Lord Dufferin, the duke of Cleveland (1885) ; Lord Overstone, Bright, Gladstone, Chamberlain, Sir J. Tenniel, Earl Spencer, Viscount Cranbrook and many others.