Walter Westley Russell
Encyclopedia
Sir Walter Westley Russell CVO RA (31 May 1867 – 16 April 1949) was a British
painter and art teacher. He became a member of the Royal Academy of Arts
in 1926 and served as Keeper of the Royal Academy Schools from 1927 to 1942.
, Essex
, in 1867 and studied at the Westminster School of Art
under Professor Frederick Brown. He exhibited five works at the Royal Academy
between 1891 and 1904, including The Pierrots, Tea Time and a portrait. He exhibited at New English Art Club
from 1893.
He was a teacher and then Assistant Professor at the Slade School of Fine Art
between 1895 and 1927. As a landscape painter he worked mainly in Yorkshire
, Norfolk
and Sussex
. He also painted portraits and genre pictures. He was one of 150 artists chosen to represent Britain at the 1912 Venice Bienniale Exhibition.
During World War I
, he was a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers
and was mentioned in dispatches.
He was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy on 22 April 1920, becoming a full Academician on 23 February 1926 and a Senior Academician on 1 January 1943. He served as Keeper of the Royal Academy Schools from October 1927 (he was appointed at the General Assembly on 28 June 1927), leading the school through a period when it was abolishing the Visitor system in favour of permanent staff. He retired in 1942, becoming Honorary Keeper from Michaelmas Day until the end of the year. He also became a member of the Society of Painters in Water Colours
in 1930 and was a trustee of the National Gallery (appointed in 1927) and of the Tate Gallery
(appointed 1934).
Russell was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
in 1931, and was knighted
in 1935.
He married Lydia Burton (1881–1944) in 1900 and they had no children. He died at his home in Kensington
, London
in 1949.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
painter and art teacher. He became a member of the Royal Academy of Arts
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1926 and served as Keeper of the Royal Academy Schools from 1927 to 1942.
Life and career
Russell was born in Forest GateForest Gate
Forest Gate is a residential area in the London Borough of Newham, 7 miles northeast of Charing Cross. It is bordered by Manor Park to the east and and to the west lies Stratford town centre. The northern half of the busy Green Street runs through it.-History:...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, in 1867 and studied at 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...
under Professor Frederick Brown. He exhibited five works at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
between 1891 and 1904, including The Pierrots, Tea Time and a portrait. He exhibited at New English Art Club
New English Art Club
The New English Art Club was founded in London in 1885 as an alternate venue to the Royal Academy.-History:Young English artists returning from studying art in Paris mounted the first exhibition of the New English Art Club in April 1886...
from 1893.
He was a teacher and then Assistant Professor at the Slade School of Fine Art
Slade School of Fine Art
The Slade School of Fine Art is a world-renownedart school in London, United Kingdom, and a department of University College London...
between 1895 and 1927. As a landscape painter he worked mainly in 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...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. He also painted portraits and genre pictures. He was one of 150 artists chosen to represent Britain at the 1912 Venice Bienniale Exhibition.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
and was mentioned in dispatches.
He was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy on 22 April 1920, becoming a full Academician on 23 February 1926 and a Senior Academician on 1 January 1943. He served as Keeper of the Royal Academy Schools from October 1927 (he was appointed at the General Assembly on 28 June 1927), leading the school through a period when it was abolishing the Visitor system in favour of permanent staff. He retired in 1942, becoming Honorary Keeper from Michaelmas Day until the end of the year. He also became a member of the Society of Painters in Water Colours
Royal Watercolour Society
The Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...
in 1930 and was a trustee of the National Gallery (appointed in 1927) and of the Tate Gallery
Tate
-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
(appointed 1934).
Russell was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1931, and was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1935.
He married Lydia Burton (1881–1944) in 1900 and they had no children. He died at his home in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, 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 1949.
Works
Russell's works include:- A View of Poole Harbour
- The Morning Room
- Barber's Shop (1909)
- Donkeys and Kites (1909)
- Carting Sand (1910)
- The Blue Dress (1911)
- Mr Minney (1920)
- Alice
- The Amber Beads (1926)
- Cordelia (1930)
- The Farmyard (1934)
- High Tide, Blakeney (1938)
- Studland Beach
External links
- Sir Walter Russell at Tate Online