Frederick Walker

Inscriptionback to top

On backing board, label from 1908 RA winter exhibition.

This portraitback to top

Walker made numerous self-portraits in caricature and sketch form, but this is the only known one in colour. It was used by Walker’s brother-in-law J.G. Marks as frontispiece to his biography of the sitter, [1] the photographic image thereafter being issued as a carte-de-visite by the studio of William John Naudin, [2] described as Walker at age 25, which accords with his appearance and dates the watercolour to around 1865.

There are no indications of costume, apart from a few pencil lines and strokes of brown at the neck. The background includes various tones of green, purple, yellow and brown. There are a few test patches of colour on the right-hand side of the card. Apart from the area of the image itself, the card has darkened through contact with a wooden mount.

Magdalene Keaney

Footnotesback to top

1) Marks 1896.
2) The Rob Dickins Coll., Watts G., Compton, COMWG2008.251.

Physical descriptionback to top

Head-and-shoulders facing forwards, with healthy complexion, bright blue eyes, chestnut hair and moustache.

Provenanceback to top

J.G. Marks, the artist’s brother-in-law; deposited on loan by Geoffrey Marks, 1908 and presented in accordance with his wishes by his son, G.L. Marks, 1936.

Exhibitionsback to top

Frederick Walker, Dunthorne’s Gallery, London, 1885 (13).

Reproductionsback to top

Marks 1896, frontispiece.

Carte-de-visite by William John Naudin, London.

View all known portraits for Frederick Walker