Frederick Walker and his works . flinching accuracy in detail,from the searching modelling of those unique rustic portraits which hewas wont to frame in the landscapes of his beloved province. Many of Walkers most celebrated water-colours date from the year1868, and it must be owned that in none of these smaller works doesthe French influence which has been noted above maintain itself. Those drawings have already been noticed which are elaborations inwater-colour of illustrations done for Miss Thackerays Five Old Friendsand A Young Prince. Lilies (collection of Mrs. William Graham) may be take
Frederick Walker and his works . flinching accuracy in detail,from the searching modelling of those unique rustic portraits which hewas wont to frame in the landscapes of his beloved province. Many of Walkers most celebrated water-colours date from the year1868, and it must be owned that in none of these smaller works doesthe French influence which has been noted above maintain itself. Those drawings have already been noticed which are elaborations inwater-colour of illustrations done for Miss Thackerays Five Old Friendsand A Young Prince. Lilies (collection of Mrs. William Graham) may be taken as typicalof that class of drawing in which Walker has depicted with an unsurpassedlavishncss of detail, with innumerable pure and delicate touches, theexuberant yet well-ordered splendour of the English flower-garden in fullsummer beauty. If we concede to the painter the peculiarity of hisstandpoint, and accept that in English water-colour so revolutionarytechnique which was his own invention, the thing could hardly be better. The First by permission of Messrs, Agnevi ana So/is, ozvners of the Copyright. 46 FREDERICK JVALKER done. The only disturbing element is the figure of the young lady insummer attire who bends down to water the tall white lilies that givetheir name to the picture. This is strained and awkward ; it wants thecharm which the artist, as a rule, knew how to impart even to his mis-takes. Of Mushrooms and Fungi (collection of Mr. Humphrey Roberts)it has been said, not without reason, that it showed a desire to emulate theachievements in the same style of William Hunt. If so, we must agreewith Mr. Ruskin when he says, It entirely beats my dear old WilliamHunt in the simplicity of execution, and rivals him in the subtlest group of creamy-white mushrooms and fungi of a disquietingbeauty, with their lovely hues in vivid contrast to the bright green of thebed on which they lie, is far more delicate in colour than anything ofHunts, and
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidfrederickwalkerh00phil
