William Walls RSA
RSA Obituary by George Pirie RSA and David Foggie RSA
Transcribed from the 1942 RSA Annual Report
William Walls, the son of the late James Walls, Provost of Dunfermline, was born in
1860. He died on 25
th June, the oldest member of the Academy still active in its
affairs.
After his attendance at Dunfermline High School he studied art at the School of
Design and the Academy Life School. Thereafter he worked under M.C. Verlat at the
Academy at Antwerp, where he had as companions MacGeorge and Hornel.
Even at that time Walls' interest was in the painting of animals, and in the large
Zoological Gardens at Antwerp he had great scope for observation. He seems to
have followed his study at Antwerp by working at the London Zoo and by painting
landscape in the Fen country.
Returning to Scotland his concern was principally with domestic animals until the
formation of the Edinburgh Zoological Garden, where again he had an opportunity to
study his more savage models.
In the formation of this Zoological park he was very active, and was a member of the
Executive Council.
His important landscapes were mostly of Highland subjects, and
among his portraits that of his mother was a very distinguished performance.
Walls was made an Associate of the Academy in 1901 and full member in 1919. His
Diploma work is of a wounded swan; the Academy also possesses ''In the Arena"
and a rendering of "Pike" acquired this year. In the Modern Arts Collection are "Snow
Leopards' Toilet" and "Cave-dwellers at Play." Glasgow, Dundee, Paisley and the
Carnegie Trust, Dunfermline, have also examples. He became a member of the
R.S.W. in 1906.
To the end Walls' vitality and youthfulness of spirit were remarkable, and a large
circle of friends will deeply regret his passing. He is survived by his widow, a son and
a daughter.
He taught animal paintings at the Edinburgh College of Art.
Became ARSA 1901; RSA 1914: RSW 1906.
Exhibited a number of paintings as follows:
AB 2, B 1, BG 2, GL 98, L 27, M 12, R A 18, RHA 5, RSA 204, RSW 128
Painting Number 3 signed Wm Walls bottom left Titled Kintail 27 May 1936. Kintail is a mountainous region in the North west of Scotland at the head if Loch Duich.
Painting number 2 Annan 13th September 1929 Then an undecipherable word followed by side and an arrow
Painting Number 1 Belgium September b1935. He trained in Antwerp so it is reasonable to assume he returned to Belgium from time to time.
I am keeping the three together as only one has a signature although his handwriting is distinctive, as exemplified in his othger sketches.
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