William Wilson, 1905 - 1972. Artist
About this artwork
William Wilson was a stained-glass maker, painter and printmaker of great distinction. He began his training with the Edinburgh stained-glass maker James Ballantyne, before entering Edinburgh College of Art, where he studied print-making under Adam Bruce Thomson. He travelled on a scholarship across Europe before continuing his studies at the Royal College of Art in London. Wilson designed stained glass windows for Canterbury Cathedral, Brechin Cathedral and numerous churches. The painter and master printmaker Ian Fleming was a close friend of Wilson. He conveys a sense of melancholy in this portrait – perhaps because he knew that Wilson was gradually becoming blind as a result of diabetes.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Ian Fleming (1906 - 1994) Scottish
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title:William Wilson, 1905 - 1972. Artist
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date created:1946
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:59.69 x 48.90 cm; Framed: 71.20 x 60.80 x 7.50 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Purchased in 2014
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accession number:PG 3738
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gallery:
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depicted:
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subject:
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artwork photographed by:Antonia Reeve
Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Fleming was born in Glasgow and studied at the Glasgow School of Art. He began printmaking at art school, and Glasgow Art Gallery bought two of his prints while he was still a student. In 1928, Fleming made his first engraving while working with Charles Murray, and he soon became a highly-skilled...