James Philip Sydney Streatfeild[1] (5 November 1879 – 3 June 1915) was an English painter and bohemian descended from the historic Streatfeild family of Chiddingstone Castle, Kent.
Streatfeild was born in Clapham, where his father was a bank clerk. His grandfather was the vicar of East Ham, Essex. He studied at art college. A successful artist, he had a studio off the Kings Road in London. It has been suggested he received training under Henry Scott Tuke. He painted portraits of industrialists, the occasional actress and young children.[2] He was acquainted with London society and was a friend of Robbie Ross, patron of the arts and a former lover of Oscar Wilde.[3]
In 1914, Streatfeild became a mentor to the then-14-year-old actor and later famed author Noël Coward.[4] Coward's social ascendancy began thanks to Streatfeild who, before his death, asked wealthy socialite Mrs Astley Cooper to take Coward under her wing.[5] Mrs Astley Cooper continued to encourage her late friend's protégé, who remained a frequent guest at her estate, Hambleton Hall in Rutland.[6]
Streatfeild enlisted in the army in November 1914 but contracted tuberculosis and was invalided out in the spring of 1915.[3] He died from the disease in June 1915 at age 35.[6]