William Wilson
Artist: Holloway, Edgar, RE · 1914-2008
This is the second of two pencil portraits of William Wilson RSA both of which were subsequently used by Holloway as the basis for etchings.
It was executed in Wilson's studio in Edinburgh on a visit made by Holloway during which he was interviewed for an offered a place at ECA which he eventally declined.
This drawing was reversed for the print "William Wilson (Profile)," (Meyrick 116) an impression in the first state of which is held in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (GMA 2550). The RSA holds proof number 5 from the final edition of 30 copies (2024.0012).
Holloway and Wilson first met in 1935. Wilson provided Holloway with his first formal introduction to etching.
The following year they shared a cottage together for six months at Nettleswell Common where they worked together sharing a printing press which they purchased.
The story of their relationship is recounted in Chapter Three of "Against the Odds, the Life of Edgar Holloway, Artist" written by his second wife Jennifer Holloway and published by Sansom & Co., in 2014.
© The Artist's Estate
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Object data
Date 1937 Accession 2024.0011 Materials Support paper Dimensions Sight
22.8cm x 21.6cmMedium Paper -
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