The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (504 page)
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Authors: Ian Chilvers
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Walker , Dame Ethel
(1861–1951)
. One of the most distinguished British women painters of her period. She did not take up art seriously until she was in her late twenties. In 1900 she became a member of the
New English Art Club
and it was there that she exhibited most of her work. She painted portraits, flowerpieces, interiors, and seascapes in an attractive
Impressionist
style, but her most individual works are decorative compositions inspired by her vision of a Golden Age. They show the influence of
Puvis de Chavannes
as well as of her interest in philosophy and religion.
. One of the most distinguished British women painters of her period. She did not take up art seriously until she was in her late twenties. In 1900 she became a member of the
New English Art Club
and it was there that she exhibited most of her work. She painted portraits, flowerpieces, interiors, and seascapes in an attractive
Impressionist
style, but her most individual works are decorative compositions inspired by her vision of a Golden Age. They show the influence of
Puvis de Chavannes
as well as of her interest in philosophy and religion.
Walker , Robert
(
c.
1605/10–56/60).
English portrait painter. He has a certain niche in history as he was the portraitist most favoured by Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians during the Interregnum (1649–60), but his work is generally dull and derivative (mainly of van
Dyck
). His last dated pictures are of 1656 and he is said to have died ‘a little before the Restoration’.
c.
1605/10–56/60).
English portrait painter. He has a certain niche in history as he was the portraitist most favoured by Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians during the Interregnum (1649–60), but his work is generally dull and derivative (mainly of van
Dyck
). His last dated pictures are of 1656 and he is said to have died ‘a little before the Restoration’.
Wallace Collection
, London.
, London.
National museum consisting of the collection built up in the 18th and 19th cents. by the Seymour-Conway family, Earls and later Marquesses of Hertford; it was bequeathed to the nation in 1897 by Lady Wallace , widow of Sir Richard Wallace , the illegitimate son of the 4th Marquess of Hertford, and opened to the public in 1900. It is housed in Hertford House, the former London residence of the family. The collection, the largest of its date to be preserved intact, reflects the tastes of various members of the family, but particularly of the 4th Marquess (Richard Seymour-Conway, 1800–70) and his son Sir Richard Wallace (1819–90), who each spent much of their lives in Paris. The Marquess bought most of the superb representation of 18th-cent. French art (furniture as well as paintings) that is the collection's chief glory; Sir Richard added much
Renaissance
decorative art and the magnificent collection of armour, rivalled in Britain only by that in the Royal Armouries. Other areas in which the Wallace Collection is particularly rich are 17th-cent. Dutch and Flemish painting (the most famous picture is Frans
Hals's
The Laughing Cavalier
); 18th-cent. English portraits; and the works of
Bonington
(the best representation anywhere).
Renaissance
decorative art and the magnificent collection of armour, rivalled in Britain only by that in the Royal Armouries. Other areas in which the Wallace Collection is particularly rich are 17th-cent. Dutch and Flemish painting (the most famous picture is Frans
Hals's
The Laughing Cavalier
); 18th-cent. English portraits; and the works of
Bonington
(the best representation anywhere).
Wallis , Alfred
(1855–1942)
. British
naïve
painter of sailing ships and landscapes. He went to sea as a cabin boy and cook at the age of 9, and from about 1880 worked as a fisherman in Cornwall. In 1890 he opened a rag and bone store in St Ives and after retiring from this did odd jobs, including selling ice-cream. He began to paint in 1925 to ease the loneliness he felt after his wife's death and was discovered by Ben
Nicholson
and Christopher
Wood
in 1928, the unselfconscious vigour of his work making a powerful impression on them. Wallis painted from memory and imagination, usually working with ship's paint on odd scraps of cardboard or wood. Although he rapidly became the best known of British naïve artists, he died in a workhouse.
. British
naïve
painter of sailing ships and landscapes. He went to sea as a cabin boy and cook at the age of 9, and from about 1880 worked as a fisherman in Cornwall. In 1890 he opened a rag and bone store in St Ives and after retiring from this did odd jobs, including selling ice-cream. He began to paint in 1925 to ease the loneliness he felt after his wife's death and was discovered by Ben
Nicholson
and Christopher
Wood
in 1928, the unselfconscious vigour of his work making a powerful impression on them. Wallis painted from memory and imagination, usually working with ship's paint on odd scraps of cardboard or wood. Although he rapidly became the best known of British naïve artists, he died in a workhouse.
walnut oil
.
.
Drying oil
obtained from the common walnut. It was one of the earliest oils used in painting, and perhaps the commonest
medium
in the early days of
oil painting
, but it is little used today. It dries more slowly than
linseed
oil but has less tendency to turn yellow.
obtained from the common walnut. It was one of the earliest oils used in painting, and perhaps the commonest
medium
in the early days of
oil painting
, but it is little used today. It dries more slowly than
linseed
oil but has less tendency to turn yellow.
Walpole , Horace
(1717–97)
. English collector, connoisseur, man of letters, and amateur architect. He was the fourth son of Sir Robert Walpole , Britain's first prime minister, and in 1791 he became fourth Earl of Orford. In 1739–41 he made the
Grand Tour
, travelling in France and Italy with the poet Gray. His own literary fame rests on his voluminous correspondence and on
The Castle of Otranto
(1764), the first ‘Gothic novel’. In the history of taste he is primarily important for his house at Twickenham, Strawberry Hill, which he bought in 1747 and extended into a showpiece of the Gothic Revival, employing professional architects to work from his sketches. He filled the building with his collections and it became such a tourist attraction that he had to issue tickets. In 1757 Walpole established his own printing press at Strawberry Hill, from which he issued his
Anecdotes of Painting in England
(4 vols., 1762–71), based on
Vertue's
notebooks.
. English collector, connoisseur, man of letters, and amateur architect. He was the fourth son of Sir Robert Walpole , Britain's first prime minister, and in 1791 he became fourth Earl of Orford. In 1739–41 he made the
Grand Tour
, travelling in France and Italy with the poet Gray. His own literary fame rests on his voluminous correspondence and on
The Castle of Otranto
(1764), the first ‘Gothic novel’. In the history of taste he is primarily important for his house at Twickenham, Strawberry Hill, which he bought in 1747 and extended into a showpiece of the Gothic Revival, employing professional architects to work from his sketches. He filled the building with his collections and it became such a tourist attraction that he had to issue tickets. In 1757 Walpole established his own printing press at Strawberry Hill, from which he issued his
Anecdotes of Painting in England
(4 vols., 1762–71), based on
Vertue's
notebooks.
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