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William Wilson (Profile)

Artist: Holloway, Edgar, RE · 1914-2008

This is the second of two etched portraits of William Wilson RSA both of which were worked by Holloway from pencil drawings. Both drawings are in the RSA Collections (2024.0010 and 2024.0011).

It was executed the year that Wilson opened his stained-glass studio in Edinburgh and was made on a visit by Holloway to see his friend's new venture. There is an etching of Holyrood in Edinburgh executed by Holloway the same year.

This print was reversed from the original drawing. An impression in the first state where the background to the left is heavily shaded is held in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (GMA 2550).

Although the edition was stated as thirty impressions, Meyrick notes that not all were ultimately printed and the plate was destroyed.

Holloway and Wilson had 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.