Ethel Walker
Encyclopedia
Dame Ethel Walker, DBE
(9 June 1861 - 2 March 1951) was a British painter of portraits, flower-pieces, sea-pieces and decorative compositions. Her work shows the influence of Impressionism, Puvis de Chavannes, Gauguin and Asian art.
, Scotland
, the younger child of Arthur Walker (a Yorkshireman) and his second wife, Isabella (nee Robertson). Her father was from a family of iron
founders. Her secondary education was at Brondesbury, in London
, where her drawing master, Hector Caffierti, helped bring out her artistic talents.
Following secondary school, Walker attended the Ridley School of Art. In 1880 she met fellow artist Clara Christian, and the two women began living, working and studying together. It was during this stage that she developed her strong interest in art (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html). She attended Putney School of Art, and visited Madrid, where she made copies of Velazquez. She then attended the Westminster School of Art
in London, where a then popular artist, Frederick Brown, was a teacher. Around 1893 she followed Brown to the Slade School of Art for further study (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html). She would return to the Slade School in 1912 and 1916 to study fresco and tempera painting; and again in 1921 to study sculpture with James Havard Thomas.
and Renaissance
art, as well as Chinese painting
and Taoist
philosophy. She also took interest in the female form.
Walker is best known for her portraits of the female form, paying particular attention to the detail of the sitters/models expression and individual temperaments. Her obvious, tactical brush strokes obscure unnecessary details, thereby allowing her to emphasize the aspects of the mood of the moment (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html).
In her painting, the The Mauve Dress (circa 1930), for example, the sitters long heavy dress gives the appearance of weighing her down. The woman sitter rests her elbow on a piece of furniture while resting her face in her hand. The dress seems to sap the life of the sitter, who has a dreamy expression on her face.
Walker was a supporter of the natural female form, often publicly rebuking other women for wearing makeup and heavy clothing that hid their form. Her models were never allowed to wear makeup, lipstick
, or nail polish during sittings (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html). She painted a series of work that reflected mythological themes, and several works depicting nude female models.
In one piece, titled Invocation, Walker used 25 female models, all either scantly clad or nude, kneeling around 3 female models who are wearing sheer cloth (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html). Birds are depicted fluttering overhead in the painting. It is considered her most detailed piece (http://www.bridgeman.co.uk/search/r_results.asp?artist=Ethel+Walker&nationality=&title=¢ury=&location=&keywords=&image_no=&prefix=&drawer=&medium=&order=5&page=&view=2).
Walker's works throughout her career seemed to capture the human spirit while celebrating the beauty of the female body. Although no longer considered a major artist in history, the art produced by Walker, who died in London
, did have a positive and thought-provoking impact on art as a whole.
Her art is regularly displayed in exhibits at many galleries, most notably The Gatehouse Gallery in Glasgow
, Scotland (http://www.contemporaryartgalleryscotland.net/index.html).
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(9 June 1861 - 2 March 1951) was a British painter of portraits, flower-pieces, sea-pieces and decorative compositions. Her work shows the influence of Impressionism, Puvis de Chavannes, Gauguin and Asian art.
Early life
Walker was born on 9 June 1861 in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the younger child of Arthur Walker (a Yorkshireman) and his second wife, Isabella (nee Robertson). Her father was from a family of iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
founders. Her secondary education was at Brondesbury, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where her drawing master, Hector Caffierti, helped bring out her artistic talents.
Following secondary school, Walker attended the Ridley School of Art. In 1880 she met fellow artist Clara Christian, and the two women began living, working and studying together. It was during this stage that she developed her strong interest in art (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html). She attended Putney School of Art, and visited Madrid, where she made copies of Velazquez. She then attended the Westminster School of Art
Westminster School of Art
The Westminster School of Art was an art school in Westminster, London. It was located at 18 Tufton Street, Deans Yard, Westminster, and was part of the old Architectural Museum.H. M. Bateman described it in 1903 as...
in London, where a then popular artist, Frederick Brown, was a teacher. Around 1893 she followed Brown to the Slade School of Art for further study (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html). She would return to the Slade School in 1912 and 1916 to study fresco and tempera painting; and again in 1921 to study sculpture with James Havard Thomas.
Professional art career
Walker produced a large body of works from different genres, to include flowers, seascapes, landscapes, and mythical subjects. Walker's influences included in GreekGreek art
Greek art began in the Cycladic and Minoan prehistorical civilization, and gave birth to Western classical art in the ancient period...
and Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
art, as well as Chinese painting
Chinese painting
Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. The earliest paintings were not representational but ornamental; they consisted of patterns or designs rather than pictures. Early pottery was painted with spirals, zigzags, dots, or animals...
and Taoist
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
philosophy. She also took interest in the female form.
Walker is best known for her portraits of the female form, paying particular attention to the detail of the sitters/models expression and individual temperaments. Her obvious, tactical brush strokes obscure unnecessary details, thereby allowing her to emphasize the aspects of the mood of the moment (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html).
In her painting, the The Mauve Dress (circa 1930), for example, the sitters long heavy dress gives the appearance of weighing her down. The woman sitter rests her elbow on a piece of furniture while resting her face in her hand. The dress seems to sap the life of the sitter, who has a dreamy expression on her face.
Walker was a supporter of the natural female form, often publicly rebuking other women for wearing makeup and heavy clothing that hid their form. Her models were never allowed to wear makeup, lipstick
Lipstick
Lipstick is a cosmetic product containing pigments, oils, waxes, and emollients that applies color, texture, and protection to the lips. Many varieties of lipstick are known. As with most other types of makeup, lipstick is typically, but not exclusively, worn by women...
, or nail polish during sittings (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html). She painted a series of work that reflected mythological themes, and several works depicting nude female models.
In one piece, titled Invocation, Walker used 25 female models, all either scantly clad or nude, kneeling around 3 female models who are wearing sheer cloth (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/walker_e.html). Birds are depicted fluttering overhead in the painting. It is considered her most detailed piece (http://www.bridgeman.co.uk/search/r_results.asp?artist=Ethel+Walker&nationality=&title=¢ury=&location=&keywords=&image_no=&prefix=&drawer=&medium=&order=5&page=&view=2).
Walker's works throughout her career seemed to capture the human spirit while celebrating the beauty of the female body. Although no longer considered a major artist in history, the art produced by Walker, who died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, did have a positive and thought-provoking impact on art as a whole.
Her art is regularly displayed in exhibits at many galleries, most notably The Gatehouse Gallery in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland (http://www.contemporaryartgalleryscotland.net/index.html).
Further reading
- T. W. Earp (et al.), Ethel Walker, Frances Hodgkins, and Gwen John: A Memorial Exhibition ( London: Arts Council of Great Britain, 1952)
- B. L. Pearce, Dame Ethel Walker: An Essay in Reassessment (Exeter, England: Stride Publications, 1997)