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Walls, William, RSA RSW

1860 – 1942

vide McEwan, Peter J The Dictionary of Scottish Art and Architecture, p577. Walls' bronze ARSA (1901) and silver RSA (1914) medals were offered for sale on e-bay in July 2015 by P Richards, 11 Cousely Close, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England along with other medals awarded to members of the Walls' family. The bronze medal was sold for £205.00 after an on-line process that involved 21 bidders. RSA Annual Report 1942, "Notice XIV Obituaries; WILLIAM WALLS RSA RSW; William Walls, the son of the late James Walls, Provost of Dunfermline, was born in 1860. He died on 25th June [1942], the oldest member of the Academy still active in its affairs. After his attendance at Dunfermline High School, he studied art at the School of Design and the Academy Life School. Thereafter [sic - he was in Antwerp 1883-85, ie before studying in Edinburgh] he worked under M C Verlat at the Academy at Antwerp, where he had as companions [William Stewart] MacGeorge [who nursed him through a major illness there] and [Edward Atkinson] Hornel. Even at that time Walls' interest was in the painting of animals, and in the large Zoological Gardens at Antwerp he had great scope for observation. He seems to have followed his study at Antwerp by working at the London Zoo and by painting landscape in the Fen country. Returning to Scotland his concern wa sprincipally with domestic animals until the formation of the Edinburgh Zoological garden, where again he had an opportiunity to study his more savage models. In the formation of this Zoological park he was very active, and was a member of the Executive Council. His important landscapes were mostly of Highland subjects, and among his portraits that of his mother was a very distinguished performance. Walls was made an Asscoaite of the Academy in 1901 and full Academician in 1919 [sic - he was actually elected RSA at a General Assembly Meeting on 1914-02-11] His Diploma work is of a wounded swan; the Acadmy also possesses "In the Arena" and a rendering of "Pike", acquired this year. In the Modern Arts Collection are "Snow Leopards' Toilet" and "Cave-Dwellers at Play". Glasgow, Dundee, Paisley and the Carnegie Trust, Dunfermline, hav ealso examples. He became a member of the RSW in 1906. To 5the end Walls' vitality and youthfulness of spirit were remarkable, and alarge circle of friends will deeply regret his passing. He is survived by his widow, a son and a daughter".

Works in which this creator appears



An image from the RSA collection.