William Walls (1860-1942) - Late 19th Century Oil Cattle Grazing by the Coast

Description

A charming landscape by William Walls RSA RSW. Cattle graze peacefully in the foreground, while a castle overlooks the coastline in the distance. The cattle are a particular highlight of the piece, and are rendered with care and precision. Signed to the lower left. A biography of the artist is affixed to the reverse. Well presented in a gilt-effect frame with a faux wood grain design. On canvas laid to board.

Condition

Signs of wear consistent with age, including some discolouration to the varnish and areas of craquelure. Inspection under UV light reveals no restoration. Marks, scuffs, and stable cracking to the frame. Small losses to the corners.

Size

24.5 x 34.5cm (9.6" x 13.6")
Framed Size: 45 x 55cm (17.7" x 21.7")

Artist Biography

Scottish painter William Walls RSA RSW is best known for his watercolour paintings of animals. He was a member of the Edinburgh Academy and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy Schools. He continued his studies at Antwerp’s Academie Royale des Beaux Arts. He began making drawings and paintings of animals in the zoos in Antwerp and London at a time when animal painting was becoming increasingly popular in England. In 1892, Andrew Carnegie commissioned animal portraits from him. He was elected a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1914 and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour in 1906, and became a well-known teacher at Edinburgh College of Art. Walls exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Aberdeen Artists' Society, and with Connell & Sons. He was also a founding member of the Edinburgh Zoo.