W. Lister Lister
Encyclopedia
William Lister Lister was an Australian painter who won the Wynne Prize
seven times.
He was born in Manly
, a suburb of Sydney
. At the age of eight he moved with his parents to Yorkshire
, England, spent a year in France and finally Glasgow
, Scotland
, where he studied mechanical engineering (1876–80) at the College of Science and Arts and at the Fairfield Engineering Works. There he joined the St Mungo Art Club, exhibiting at the Royal Scottish Academy
at the age of seventeen.
After serving four years at sea as a ship's engineer, he settled in London, where he began painting professionally as well as teaching. He returned to Sydney in 1888 where he began producing the seascapes and coastal scenes for which he is best known.
He joined the Art Society (later Royal Art Society), and remained with that organization through its many upheavals, exhibiting from 1899.
In 1898 he exhibited successfully at an Exhibition of Australian Art at the Grafton Galleries, London
.
In 1900 he was appointed a trustee of the National Gallery of New South Wales and served as vice-president from 1919–43.
He was a regular exhibitor at Anthony Hordern's
art gallery from 1919–40. Margaret Preston
cited him as an early influence.
He died as the result of a traffic accident, after being struck by a taxi.
Wynne Prize
The Wynne Prize is an Australian landscape painting or figure sculpture art prize. One of Australia's longest running art prizes, it was established in 1897 from the bequest of Richard Wynne...
seven times.
He was born in Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
, a suburb of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. At the age of eight he moved with his parents to Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England, spent a year in France and finally 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
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...
, where he studied mechanical engineering (1876–80) at the College of Science and Arts and at the Fairfield Engineering Works. There he joined the St Mungo Art Club, exhibiting at the Royal Scottish Academy
Royal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy is a Scottish organisation that promotes contemporary Scottish art. Founded in 1826, as the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, the RSA maintains a unique position in Scotland as an independently funded institution led by eminent artists and...
at the age of seventeen.
After serving four years at sea as a ship's engineer, he settled in London, where he began painting professionally as well as teaching. He returned to Sydney in 1888 where he began producing the seascapes and coastal scenes for which he is best known.
He joined the Art Society (later Royal Art Society), and remained with that organization through its many upheavals, exhibiting from 1899.
In 1898 he exhibited successfully at an Exhibition of Australian Art at the Grafton Galleries, 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...
.
In 1900 he was appointed a trustee of the National Gallery of New South Wales and served as vice-president from 1919–43.
He was a regular exhibitor at Anthony Hordern's
Anthony Hordern & Sons
Anthony Horderns was the largest department store in Sydney, Australia. It was originally established by a free immigrant from England, Anthony Hordern, in 1823, as a drapery shop...
art gallery from 1919–40. Margaret Preston
Margaret Preston
Margaret Preston was a well-known Australian artist. She was highly influential during the 1920s to 1940s for her modernist works as a painter and printmaker and for introducing Aboriginal motifs into contemporary art.-Early life:...
cited him as an early influence.
He died as the result of a traffic accident, after being struck by a taxi.
Wynne Prize wins
- 1898 - 'The Last Gleam'
- 1906 - 'The Golden Splendour of the Bush'
- 1910 - 'Mid Song of Birds and Insects Murmuring
- 1912 - 'Sydney Harbour'
- 1913 - 'Federal Capital Site'
- 1917 - 'Windswept Marshes'
- 1925 - 'Track through the Bush'