Walter Withers

Walter Withers studied at Académie Julian. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is painting. Work by Walter Withers is recorded in the collections of National Gallery of Victoria, National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia and Art Gallery of New South Wales. Distinctions recorded are Wynne Prize.

• Birth Name — Walter Herbert Withers • Born — 22 October 1854 • Birthplace — Handsworth, Staffordshire, UK • Died — 13 October 1914 • Place of death — Eltham, Victoria, Australia • Education — Académie Julian • Movement — Heidelberg School • Elected — Victorian Artists Society • Illustration — The Farm, 1890 • Illustration — The Storm (1896), winner of the first Wynne Prize

Withers was born on 22 October 1854, at Handsworth, to Edwin Withers. His father objected to his becoming a professional painter. During the period of his black and white work, Withers executed, in chalk, portraits for reproduction, that of the Count von Bismark being an especially fine example of his work in this direction. In his spare time Withers sought to cultivate his art, and eventually had work accepted for exhibition in the Old Academy, Melbourne. In 1887, Withers went to Europe, and there he married Fanny Flinn in October. He and his wife settled in a small flat in Paris and he studied at the Académie Julian. In 1890, Withers and his family moved into Charterisville Estate in East Ivanhoe. In 1903, they moved for the last time to Eltham, to a timber house on the corner of Bolton and Brougham Streets. Here, Withers added a studio, where he painted many works featuring the local landscape.

• Illustration — Evening on the Yarra, 1887, National Gallery of Victoria • Illustration — After the Heat of the Day, 1891 • Illustration — Wet Day, Art Gallery of Queensland, 1892 • Illustration — Panning for Gold, private collection, 1893 • Illustration — A Bright Winter's Morning, 1894, National Gallery of Victoria • Illustration — Tranquil Winter, 1895, National Gallery of Victoria • Illustration — Moonrise on the Yarra, 1908, Geelong Art Gallery