Herbert Gustave Schmalz (1856–1935), later known as Herbert Carmichael, was an English painter closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne to a German father and English mother, he studied at South Kensington, the Royal Academy of Arts, and in Antwerp. He became known for his richly detailed historical and biblical scenes, often influenced by Orientalism and classical ideals.
Schmalz was utterly hostile to Impressionism, preferring clarity, narrative, and refined technique. His major works include Too Late (1884) and Return from Calvary (1891), inspired by a journey to Jerusalem. Later in life, he turned to portraiture and held a successful solo exhibition, A Dream of Fair Women, in 1900. Amid anti-German sentiment during World War I, he adopted his mother’s maiden name, Carmichael. He remained connected to key Victorian artists such as Frederic Leighton and Val Prinsep, and died in London in 1935.