Edward Bent Walker

1860 - 1917

A FAMOUS ARTIST

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E.BENT WALKER

Reproduced from the 'Wigan Examiner', December 16th 1913

A famous Wigan artist Mr. Edward Bent Walker, the well-known painter, is a WIGAN man. For he was born near MAB'S CROSS in 1860 and his early years as an artist were spent in Lancashire. First at Liverpool, where he studied under SIGNOR DASTIS, The Spanish painter and afterwards at Manchester, where he was one of the brightest students of the School of Art and a favourite pupil of the late J.H.E. PARTINGTON. A locally famous portrait painter, Mr. Walker afterwards went to SIR HUBERT VON HERKOMER, RA's famous school at BUSHEY, near London & here he had a distinguished career as a student & later as chief coach. In the latter capacity his success was so marked that SIR B.W. LEADER RA, the popular painter, put his son under Mr. Walkers' tuition & both the sons of MR. R CATO-WOODVILLE, the well-known black and white artist, also studied under him. Leaving BUSHEY, Mr. Walker went to London. Where he has done work that has won him the admiration of discerning artists. He exhibited at the ROYAL ACADEMY nearly thirty years ago. He has been awarded the GOLD MEDAL OF THE CHILIAN GOVERNMENT, which specially asked him to exhibit at the CHILIAN EXHIBITION a few years ago. Perhaps his best known portrait is that of the late PROFESSOR EBENEZER PROUT, which was painted on the commission of THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS in whose rooms in London it now hangs.(OIL 1904) Professor Prout left the portrait to THE NATIONAL GALLERY & it will ultimately be hung there. Among other well-known canvasses of Mr. walkers are the LATE ALDERMAN MCDOUGAL, which is in the MANCHESTER CITY ART GALLERY, THE MAYOR OF FAVERSHAM, THE MAYOR OF CREWE. Mr. Walker's strong points are his fine vigour, his magnificent colouring and his acute sense of drawing. Two years ago he had a long stay in VENICE & his originality & impressionist pictures were the admiration of the best critics during exhibition in London. To instance his versatility as a painter and craftsman of the highest schools of art, there are TWO LARGE TAPESTRY SCREENS which hang in the TOWN HALLS OF GLASGOW AND EDINGBURGH, which were designed by him.They represent the lives of the Patron Saints of each city, viz: - SAINT KENTIGERN & SAINT COLUMBA. He has periodical visits to LIVERPOOL & MANCHESTER & is at the later city this week with a fine exhibition of his PICTURES OF THE RIBBLE VALLEY.

EXHIBITED 1896 TO 1916
FLOWER, FIGURE & PORTRAIT PAINTER, BUSHEY, HERT'S 1896
LONDON 1901 + M1 P1 RA3 RO1.1

M. Manchester City Art Gallery
Royal Society of Portrait Painters
RA. Royal Academy
RO1. Royal Institute of Oil Painters

Also known paintings are: ON PLEASURE BENT & THE DEAD BIRD