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Sir William Turner Walton

(1902-1983), Composer

Sitter in 26 portraits
During a sixty-year career, Walton composed music in various styles and genres, including symphonies, concertos, ballet music, opera and film scores. Influenced by jazz and the music of Stravinsky, he collaborated with Edith Sitwell on Façade - An Entertainment (1922), a musical accompaniment to her poems. His later works, notably Belshazzar's Feast (1931), three concertos and two symphonies, show the evolution of a personal style combining modernist elements with traditional forms. Walton met Edith's brother Sacheverell at Oxford University in 1918 and was part of the Sitwell household from 1919 to 1933. The family provided him with patronage and encouragement. He was knighted in 1951.

Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

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Sir William Turner Walton, by Maurice Lambert - NPG 5913

Sir William Turner Walton

by Maurice Lambert
bronze head, circa 1925
NPG 5913

Sir William Turner Walton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG P55

Sir William Turner Walton

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1926
NPG P55

Sir William Turner Walton, by Rex Whistler - NPG 4640

Sir William Turner Walton

by Rex Whistler
pencil, 1929
NPG 4640

Sir William Turner Walton, by Michael Ayrton - NPG 5138

Sir William Turner Walton

by Michael Ayrton
oil on canvas, 1948
NPG 5138

Sir William Turner Walton, by Arnold Newman - NPG P150(37)

Sir William Turner Walton

by Arnold Newman
bromide print, 1978
NPG P150(37)

Sir William Turner Walton, by Lord Snowdon - NPG P844

Sir William Turner Walton

by Lord Snowdon
vintage bromide print, 7 April 1980
NPG P844

Cecil Beaton and his friends, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40409

Cecil Beaton and his friends

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, October 1927
NPG x40409

Sir William Turner Walton, by Howard Coster - NPG x14661

Sir William Turner Walton

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1935
NPG x14661

Sir William Turner Walton, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x81194

Sir William Turner Walton

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate film negative, 3 April 1937
NPG x81194

Sir William Turner Walton, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x81195

Sir William Turner Walton

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate film negative, 3 April 1937
NPG x81195

Sir William Turner Walton, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x81196

Sir William Turner Walton

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate film negative, 3 April 1937
NPG x81196

Sir William Turner Walton, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x81197

Sir William Turner Walton

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate film negative, 3 April 1937
NPG x81197

Sir William Turner Walton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x14232

Sir William Turner Walton

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, 1940s
NPG x14232

Sir William Turner Walton, by Elliott & Fry - NPG x91673

Sir William Turner Walton

by Elliott & Fry
bromide print, 1951
NPG x91673

Edith Sitwell; Sir William Turner Walton; Susana Gil (née Passo), Lady Walton, by Fox Photos Ltd - NPG x194188

Edith Sitwell; Sir William Turner Walton; Susana Gil (née Passo), Lady Walton

by Fox Photos Ltd
vintage print, July 1953
NPG x194188

Sir William Turner Walton, by Derek Allen - NPG x32799

Sir William Turner Walton

by Derek Allen
bromide print, 1954
NPG x32799

The Sitwells, by London Express News and Feature Services - NPG x199008

The Sitwells

by London Express News and Feature Services
bromide press print, 9 October 1962
NPG x199008

Sir William Turner Walton, by Baron (Sterling Henry Nahum) - NPG x27250

Sir William Turner Walton

by Baron (Sterling Henry Nahum)
bromide print
NPG x27250

Web image not currently available

Sir William Turner Walton

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1935
NPG x14659

Web image not currently available

Sir William Turner Walton

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1935
NPG x14660

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