Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/476

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WAL

WAL

illustrated were Miss Thackeray's novels. fie was elected an associate of the Society of Painters in Water-Colours in 1864, and a full member in 1866, and was the only Englishman who took a medal for water- colour in the Paris International Exhibi- tion of 1867. Among his finest works in this medium are * Philip in Church/ ' The Fairy/ ' The Fishmonger's Shop/ etc. His first oil picture in the Royal Academy was 'The Lost Path/ exhibited in 1863— fol- lowed by 'The Bathers/ in 1864; 'The Vagrants/ 1868; 'The Old Gate/ 1869; 'The Plough/ 1870; and 'The Harbour of Refuge, 1872. His last work sent to the Exhibition was ' The Right of Way.' He became an associate of the Royal Academy in 1871, and was the first painter elected into the academical body while still a member of the Water-Colour Society. His early death deprived English landscape art of a follower whose genius was through- out strikingly original. His works are marked by a method of their own, the drawing, colour, and execution, alike pe- culiar to himself. They are at once refined and pathetic in sentiment, and novel in their conception of nature and her effects. His figures nave at the same time the true feeling of rustic life with the grace of line of the antique. His subjects were chiefly chosen from the events, novels, etc., of his day, and as such will be interesting to future times as characteristic of the date at which he lived. He died at St. Fillan's, Perthshire, of consumption, June 5, 1875, aged 34, and was buried at Cookbani-on- the-Thames, a place he had loved in life. His brother artists erected a tablet to his memory in Cookham Church.

WALKER, James, engraver. Was born in 1748, the son of a captain in the merchant service, and at the age of 15 be- came the pupil of Valentine Green. He Eractised in the mezzo-tint manner, and on nishing his apprenticeship he engraved after Penny, Romnev, Northcote, ana other contemporaries, and in 1784 went to St. Petersburgh, on the appointment of en- graver to the Empress of Russia, where he resided for 17 years, and engraved the por- traits of the Imperial family, and many plates from the old masters, which were his own property. In 1802 he returned to Eng- land with a pension, but unfortunately his valuable plates were lost by the ship's foundering off Yarmouth. He died in London about 1808.

WALKER, George, landscape painter . Practised in the second half of the 18th century, and painted many English views which were engraved by Byrne. He died about 1795.

WALKER, Humphrey, sculptor and founder. He practised in the reign of Henry VII., and was employed, with others,

about 1512, in the decoration of that King's Chapel at Westminster Abbey. • WALKER, Robert, portrait painter. Was contemporary with Vandyck, and studied his works, but founded a manner of his own, more severe in style and colour, aiming at great truth and character. Dur- ing the Commonwealth his works were greatly esteemed by the Republican party, and he painted the Protector and the prin- cipal officers of his army, and is known as 4 Cromwell's Portrait Painter.' There is a fine portrait of him, by his own liand, at Hampton Court ; another in the University Galleries, Oxford. He had for seme time an apartment in Arundel House, in the Strand, and died there about 1660, but under an engraved portrait by Lombart, he is stated to have died in 1658. His portraits were vigorous, truthful, and ex- pressive, and full of character, possessing many of the highest qualities.

WALKER, J. Rawson, landscape painter. He practised at Nottingham, where his works were well known ana esteemed. He introduced, with some skill, figures and architecture into his landscapes, lie exhibited at the Academy, in 1817,

  • The Feast of Eleusis at Athens/ and in

1819 some landscape compositions. A view of Nottingham oy him is engraved.

WALKER, Thomas Larkins, architect. Was the son of Adam Walker, M.D., and a pupil of Augustus Pugin. He published the history and antiquities of the Vicars' Close Wells; of the Manor House and Church of Great Chatfield, Wilts ; of the Manor House of South Wraxhall and the church of St. Peter at Bildestone, Wilts ; these works forming the first three parts of 'Examples of Gothic Architecture,' a series which went no further. He then removed from London to Nuneaton, and afterwards to Leicester, and finally, it is supposed from some unfortunate specula- tions, was induced to try to better his for- tune in China. He died at Hong Kong, October 10, 1860.

WALKER, William, water-colour painter. Was born at Hackney, July 8, 1780, and was a pupil of Robert Smirke, R.A. In 1803 he went to Greece to draw the architectural remains and monuments, and on his return, published * Six pictur- esque Views of Greece.' In 1808 he was a member of the short-lived Society of Associated Artists in Wa|er-Colours, and in 1813 was admitted astern exhibitor of the Water-Colour Society, and was a regular contributor to its exhibitions. When the Society was reconstituted in 1821 ? he was elected an associate exhibitor. His works were chiefly views on the shores of the Mediterranean, with some marine subjects, and he also tried some works with figures. He continued to contribute to the Society's

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