Sir Joshua Walmsley, MP

Date

ca. 1846 (painted)

Artist/maker

Daniels, William (painter (artist))

Materials and Techniques

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

Height: 92.7 cm estimate, Width: 70.5 cm estimate

Object history note

Given by Sir Joshua Walmsley, 1872

Descriptive line

Oil painting, 'Sir Joshua Walmsley, MP', William Daniels, ca. 1846

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Parkinson, R., Victoria and Albert Museum, Catalogue of British Oil Paintings 1820-1860, London: HMSO, 1990, pp. 65-66
The following is the full text of the entry:
"DANIELS, William (1813-1880)

Born Liverpool, 9 May 1813, the son of a brickmaker. As an apprentice to his father, he made figures in clay, attracting the interest of the portrait painter Alexander Mosses (1793-1837). Studied in his spare time at the drawing school of the Royal Institution, Liverpool, and apprenticed to a local painter and engraver. Achieved local success as a portrait painter and for his 'candlelight' studies, and exhibited frequently at the Liverpool Academy from 1831, although he did not become a member. Exhibited seven works at the RA in 1840 and 1846, all single figure studies such as a beggar and a friar, except for the portrait of ' Sir Joshua Walmsley' (see p65) who seems to have been his chief patron. The Magazine of Art writer recorded that he 'lived boisterously ... But he also felt the fascination of strong drink'; he is supposed to have declined to paint Prince Albert. He died at Everton, 13 October 1880.

LIT: Magazine of Art June 1882, pp341-3; H C Marillier The Liverpool School of Painters 1904, pp95-8

Sir Joshua Walmsley, MP
368-1872 Neg H311
Canvas, 92.7 x 70.5 cm (36½ x 27¾ ins)
Bequeathed by Sir Joshua Walmsley 1872
Presumably the portrait exhibited at the RA in 1846.

Sir Joshua Walmsley (1794-1871) was a corn merchant, advocate of the repeal of the corn laws, and friend and business associate of George Stephenson (see 364-1872, above). Elected member of Liverpool town council 1835, Mayor 1838, knighted 1840; as a Liberal, unsuccessfully contested Liverpool for Parliament 1841, elected for Leicester 1847 (but soon unseated), Bolton 1849, and Leicester again 1852-7. In 1855/6 introduced a Bill, unsuccessfully, to open the British Museum and other public institutions on Sundays. He was Daniels's chief patron; according to his son's biography, Sir Joshua expected 'great things' from the artist. In 1846, Daniels sent paintings, including a portrait of Sir Joshua, to the RA from the Walmsley home address at Ranton (not Rauton, as misprinted in the RA catalogue) Abbey, Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

Marillier considered this portrait 'powerful and vivid'. According to his son, another portrait of Sir Joshua, by Illidge (presumably Thomas Henry Illidge), was given to Lady Walmsley.

EXH: RA 1846 (461)

LIT: H M Walmsley The Life of Sir Joshua Walmsley 1879, pp 7 6-7"

Materials

Oil paint; Canvas

Techniques

Oil painting

Subjects depicted

Politician; Walmsley, Joshua (Sir)

Categories

Portraits; Paintings

Collection code

PDP