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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Piltdown_man on Saturday 30 January 10 13:32 GMT (UK)
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I have been doing some research on my great granduncle; Richard Waller (1811-1882) who was a painter and inventor, I have done a fair bit of research but there are some things that I am not having much luck with or have hit a brick wall with.
He was born in Skipton in 1811, after his apprenticeship in the 1830s as a coach painter went to train as an artist in Manchester then spent some years in London where he had a studio. In 1864 he was one of seven painters who painted a portrait of General Giuseppe Garibaldi when he visited the country; from his obituary it states "Mr Waller had the honour to be in the generals company during the whole of his stay"...Garibaldi even forwarded his robes to him and said when it was completed "it was more to his taste than the others painted during his stay." This appears to have been bought by a Mr McAlmont of the York Exhibition at the time
There are many paintings completed by him and although I can never hope to produce a definitive list of his work I have managed to make a list from "Googling" his name, some help from the National Portrait Gallery and his obituary
He died in Holbeck in 1882.
If anyone can give me any help in finding out any information on him, his work or know where any of his paintings may be then this would be of enormous help :)
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There seems to be quite a few mentions of him in here:
http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/
Including a large obit. Not sure if that is the same as the one you have.
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Thanks very much for that but I found the articles there. The regular census information from 1841-1881 I have got as well as much as I can from typing his information into the search engines. I am sure my hunt online has come to an end but I have no idea what the National Archives would hold. I have been to Yorkshire to hunt information down but as I have found out...Yorkshire records seem to be at different record offices; not very helpful.
I would like to know if a memorial exists anywhere; he died in Holbeck so I am assuming he was buried there; no wife or children survived him; his brother (my gt grandfather) and his family seem to be the only relations that exist. I am the first to "rediscover" him since then. But he is not even known in Skipton where he was born, looking at the obituary that is hard to believe considering the work he did and the paintings he left behind.
Its quite sad that no-one knows of him today; all his patents and paintings were sold off on his death.
Maybe someone out there knows something but its finding the people that may know it that is the problem
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I would like to know if a memorial exists anywhere
Have you tried contacting the local family history society? They often have surveys of graveyards that may help.
There is also at least one hit for him in here:
http://www.galeuk.com/jisc19century/
Not sure if those are included in the DB. Nothing too interesting though.
On another note there are quite a lot of Wallers in the: http://www.oxforddnb.com/
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Thanks for those links, tried the Biography site, no luck there. The other one just told me about subscriptions for institutions so not a lot of help. Will see if there is a family history site for Holbeck. I did travel to Skipton last year to try and find out more but got very little.
Seems the best source has been the obituary, which I found after I returned from Skipton...typical! That has helped as it has the most information on it, but I think Ihave to be cautious about what I decide to use from it, he seems to have that his family owned a lot of land around Skipton castle and it was lost in the civil war; I am a bit dubious about this.
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If they owned land, you may find some info possibly in Burke's Landed Gentry, which I believe is seracable on their site & accessible for a fee. However, it there may be a few generations gap. There are a few Wallers in there.
You could also try manorial records:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/mdr/searches/advancedsearch.asp
They have an index for Yorks.
Another place to try is the relevant local town/city council archives. I was lucky enough to find documents naming ancestors five generations back for my 4x at the local town council archives :)
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Richard Waller Burial 21 st June 1882 Holbeck Cemetery age 70
Grave number 9837 in the Consecrated Ground
(No Details if he had a Grave headstone or Epitaph Mi)
Address of Abode 1882 was Port st in Holbeck Leeds.
Occupation detail - Artist
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Hello
Have you seen the obituary " A Yorkshire Artist's Career" which filled two full columns of the Leeds Mercury in 1882. It lists many of his paintings and describes his life in detail. I have been researching a portrait done by Richard Waller in 1877 of my gg-grandfather, William Kettlewell who was a friend of Waller, which was displayed in Leeds Town Hall, and was on the inventory there in 1905. It has since disappeared, but I believe it is in the storeroom under the Art Gallery, described as "Portrait of a Bearded Man" - the curator showed it to me last year, but the frame is now missing. It has a huge family resemblence, but unfortunately there are no markings on it which identify the sitter or artist. There are two other portraits in the Leeds collection by Waller, those of mayors Kelsall (brother-in-law of William Kettlewell ) and Marsden. In the 1976 catalogue of the Leeds Art Galleries, it states that there is a 50.8"x38.6" self-portrait of Richard Waller, donated by Capt F Somers in 1930 - I do not know if it is still there.
Best regards
Paul Kettlewell
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I have the obituary and have worked through it trying to gather information on what he may have painted and where I could start searching for them this is in addition to the paintings that I have details on.
Although your information is the biggest lead I have had in some time and would be very interested in any information that you come up with I have been in touch with The Leeds Gallery myself after a search online; a portrait was described as "Self Portrait"..which the obituary states there is only 3 he painted. The Gallery were kind enough to send me a copy of this, it is a "bearded man" so am unsure now if it is Richard or William after what you tell me; I think one of us may be disappointed if we find out it is each others portrait!
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Richard Waller gets several mentions in the Leeds Mercury in the 1870s and 80s, not sure which of these you have seen, but just in case:-
1870 - painted Charles McGaret for display in Town Hall, Larne, NI
1877 - painted Mr Joseph Holdsworth
1878 - painted Col Forter CB for Henry F Burmester of Leominster, article also states that the Town Hall contains several portraits by him of successive mayors, and that in his gallery there are pictures of Lord Cairns, Garibaldi, Phelps & Ben Webster, also a painting entitled "Mars welcoming Venus"
1882 - the portrait of the member of Leominster was Thomas Blake
1882 - exhibited portraits of Thomas Dawson and Miss Pierson at the Leeds Art Exhibition
1882 - Bond & Barwick were the solicitors for his estate
1882 - Hepper & Sons were the auctioneers for the sale of the Tools, Plant & Patents at the Moor Foundry, Elland Rd, Holbeck from the his estate
He appears to have moved his studios from Commercial St, Leeds to Tower Buildings on Woodhouse Lane, and he advertised around 1880 for students
I believe most of the Town Hall paintings were moved to the new Leeds Civic Hall in the 1930s, the Mayors department there has a list of all the portraits and the artists, and were very helpful when I spoke to them last year.
The portrait of the bearded man which I hope is William Kettlewell is about 36"x28", so may not be the self-portrait which was catalogued, and which is significantly larger.
I hope some of this is useful. Paul
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I have the newspaper articles from the British Library but have not had a chance to add them to my list or do much work on expanding the list.
Am disappointed that the picture is not Richard; I have had it in my mind for a few years since I was sent it that I was looking at him; I will have to continue the research and hope that using the obituary as a starting point for possible places to start looking for things..but as it is 130 years old it won't be easy.
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There is another obituary here in "A History of Skipton"
http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofskipton00daws#page/263/mode/1up
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That was the first printed article I found, not sure there is much else to find as I have exhausted Google, its the paintings that are the obscure things
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My mother in law has a self portrait and a bust of Richard Waller. Her great grandfather was Joseph Waller, born 1835, and her grandmother was Ann Waller, born 1878. Is this the same family?
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Richard's mother was Ann Waller but she only had two children; Richard and Charles (my gg grandfather), I am unaware of any other children as they were classed as illegitimate and there is no record of a father
What other information do you have? Where born etc? Richard Waller was married and had one daughter both dying in 1840/1
I am aware that 2 or 3 self portraits were painted of "my" Richard but have never seen one (although up until recently a picture I had I had believed was him as I was told by gallery it was). If you have further proof as to a possible relationship then please let me know.
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Do you have any record of the children of either Richard or Charles? Was there a Joseph among them? We do know that we have works here of a Richard Waller, painter, of Victorian times, who lived up north. We also know that he was a descendant of General Waller, who was one of the signatories on the death warrant of King Charles.
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I have no Josephs amongst the ones I have recorded but it seems odd that there would be two Richard Waller's who were painters. Richard had one child called Isabella but she died in 1841 of TB, his wife Mary died a few months earlier, unless he did have an illegitimate child I have no further information
Have you read my other posts for more information? I do have his obituary if you have not seen which might give more info. There were claims in that he was related to some of the Waller's involved in the civil war and had land that was taken away (saying owned part of Skipton castle if my memory serves me right)
I did a quick search and Sir Hardress Waller was the signatory on the death warrant but seemed to be involved in Ireland rather than the north of England; I could be wrong but there are records available online that have been transcribed from the Parish Records; I have looked at these and believed these to be as accurate as those really old records could be.
I would be interested in any information you have; if you can provide something it will then be able to see if my information ties in with yours.
You say you have works of Richard Waller; what ones and how many?
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Hi Piltdown man
Sorry to but in, but I've been looking frantically for a Richard James Waller. He is obviously not your Richard Waller as he was born 1886, but his father was called Richard and at one time they lived in Bolton, Lancashire.
My Richard James Waller was married to a Grace Marion Thirtle Cooke and was in the Royal Army Medical Corps in the 1st World War. His occupation was - Actor.
Just wondered if you knew of a connection.
Mo
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I can get more information from my mother in law when she gets back from holiday. We have a self portrait of Richard Waller holding paint brushes, a bust which he commissioned in exchange for his doing a portrait of the sculptor, and a portrait of his brother and his wife.
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One more thing. We also have a sampler done by Annie Waller. It reads "Annie Waller British School March Skipton. 1881 Aged 12 years"
This might help as a piece in the jigsaw.
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We have unearthed a Waller family Bible, with the following information in it - Joseph Waller, b 31/7/1835, m Mary Jane Watson 24/6/1858. JW died 19/12/1885. 4 children, John James, b 28/1/1859, Frederick, b 6/1/1864, Ann (Annie), b 21/5/1868, Elizabeth, b 7/3,1870.
John m Mary Elizabeth Meade 9/10/1889. Annie m Thomas Ernest Leigh 30/9/1892 (my wife's line) Elizabeth m Frank Cockshott 6/6/1898.
John had 2 children, Horace Frederick Richard and Mary Elizabeth.
Hope this might help us determine how this part of the Waller family connects with Richard the artist, as it was through Annie's children that we acquired the paintings and bust.
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I am stunned!
From the info you have given I looked up Joseph Waller the son of John Waller b 1801 who was the son of Francis Waller b 1773; who would be a ggg granduncle.
You can imagine I want to know as much as you can tell me; how things came along to you what you have and particularly the paintings you have and the bust I never knew about. I have been working on making a list of the paintings he has done but this. I am dying to see what he looked like after the disappointment I had recently when I was told the copy of a pic I had was not a picture of him.
No-one on my side of family knew anything about him until I started research and I am related via his brother so you got lucky :)
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Can you please advise where Richard fits into this record? What was his relationship to Joseph?
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Joseph was a cousin once removed of Richard. Putting in the names you gave me as Joseph's descendants I have done a rough calculation and Thomas is at least a 3rd cousin twice removed so a few more generations on and it will probably be a few more x cousins x times removed.
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By my calculation we therefore have to go back one more generation for the lines to meet. Do you have a record of the father of Francis, who was presumably then Richard's grandfather?
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Hello
Would it be possible to see a copy of your self portrait of Richard Waller, I am still trying to identify a portrait of my gg-grandfather, William Kettlewell, painted by Waller in 1874. The portrait in Leeds Art Gallery which I believe to be him is unsigned, and this may help match it.
Many thanks, Paul
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After being in discussions with fourways we have confirmation that there is a connection between us and he is possession of a Richard Waller self portrait and it is signed...
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Many thanks, the style is very like one or two of Waller's pictures that are on the net, and I hope like the picture that I believe is William Kettlewell.
I was recently in touch again with the curator at Leeds Art Gallery, who was hoping to try and match the portrait against the known pictures of the two Leeds mayors by Waller that are in the Civic Hall. Would you mind if I showed him this self-portrait?
Regards, Paul
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Hello, I am a new member and cannot send private messages yet. However, if piltdown_man would like to contact me, I am an art historian and I do have information about a painting by Richard Waller which might be of interest to him. Kind regards,
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Thank you for your PM Keith. I cannot reply to it, as I still haven't made enough posts yet to be allowed to send private messages (oh, this site has strict rules!)
. Most of all, I meant to tell you to look at a site called www.interencheres.com It's a umbrella site of various French auction houses. If you type Richard Waller into the search box on the left (under 'mot-clé'), it should lead you to a painting by the artist coming up for auction in Paris on July 1rst.
Hope this helps, Kind regards, Tamara
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Tamara
If you make another post (just say hello) you should be able to send PMs
Linda
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Thank you Linda! I've just done as you said, and PMs seem to be working now. Thanks, Tamara
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I have purchased at auction, one of few charcoal etchings that was done by him. The etching is of the Towson Court House, Baltimore. On the reverse is a presentation article that reads as follows:
"This Etching is Presented by THE ROTARY CLUB OF TOWSON to December 26, 1957 who was guest speaker on Mr. Robert Richards. (this is in error, the name should have been scribed in first, then the date. They are backwards.)
Richard Thomas Waller, Baltimore Artist and Member of the famed Charcoal Club was commissioned by us to make this etching
It is given in appreciation of the Courtesy shown us by our speaker."
It is signed by the Secretary & the President of the Rortary Club.
My intentions are to put this etching on Ebay for auction. If you would like some photos, I have them. I am located in North Carolina.
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Hi
Thanks, but this is not the same Richard Waller; he did not have a middle name and was born and died in England (1811-1882). I have come across a picture of Thomas Jefferson's house by a Richard Waller as well but he never visited the US.
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I am familiar with Waller's famous print of Skipton and here is a link to the catalogue of oil paintings in public collections in the UK (there are currently around 104,000 paintings listed of 200,000 which are being added throughout 2012).
For Richard Waller paintings click on the following link (or cut and paste)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/search/painted_by/richard-waller
In William H. Dawson's History of Skipton (1882) he writes the following biography of Skipton artist Richard Waller:
WORTHIES OF OLD SKIPTON. 263
RICHARD WALLER,
Artist.
Only during the present year, 1882, has this notable native of Skipton
passed away. Richard Waller was born in 1811. He was very early
sent to a school in Newmarket-street, conducted by Mr. James Hall, the
parish clerk, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to Mr. Johnson, a
coach builder, who carried oii business in Coach-street. At a very early
age Waller showed a strong passion for painting, and although this
apprenticeship was distasteful to him, it was a step towards that higher
calling he was afterwards to follow. While yet young he painted a
picture called " Skipton in the Olden Time." This work was stolen, and
it has never been restored. After passing some time as a coach-painter,
Waller confined himself to the painting of the heraldic work connected
with the establishment. On the completion of the term of his apprentice-
ship. Waller left Skipton for Manchester, and there studied painting of a
higher kind. Here he opened a studio. At first he devoted himself
to landscapes and imaginative subjects, but at a later period he
turned his attention to portrait-painting, and it was in this branch of the
art that he ultimately made his name so celebrated. After four years'
residence in Manchester, Waller returned to Skipton, and executed a
second picture of the main street of the town, taken from Caroline
Square. A third picture of the same was produced some time later, and
with the title " A View of Skipton-in-Craven" was engraved by Baron
Friedel, the noted London engraver. Mr. Waller stayed in Skipton
until 1840, being kept well employed during the time, but in that year
he went to London, where he remained nine months, afterwards visiting
Keighley and Bradford for short periods. In the latter place he made
the acquaintance of a number of persons of literaiy and artistic tastes.
Mr. Waller's next removal was to Leeds, where he opened rooms in
Park Square. While here he painted a picture of Mr. Edward Baines,
father of Sir Edward, which added greatly to the fame his genius had
akeady won him. It was from this picture tliat Mr. Noble Bohnes
afterwards framed the statue of Mr. Baines which is now in the Leeds
Town Hall.
Again changing his place of abode, Mr. Waller went to London, where
he enjoyed the companionship of many prominent figures in the literary
and artistic world — among them Dickens, Thackeray, Lemon, Douglas
Jerrold, Woolger, and Alfred Melon. While in the capital he painted
many pictures from life. Several of his uudo figures, clever as specimens
of flesh-painting, were hung in the Royal Academy. In 1846 Waller
painted a successful picture of Garibaldi — one of seven painted during
the Hero of Caprera's visit to England, and, as the General declared, the
best. Another of Waller's notable early portraits was that of Earl
Cairns, which attracted considerable attention at the exhibition held in
the Cloth Hall Yard, Leeds. This picture was passed to be hung in
the Royal Academy, and it was named in the catalogue, but by some
accident was left out of the exhibition. Many other clever portraits
Waller executed in the coiirse of his laborious career. Indeed, it has
been said that there is scarcely a family of standing in the county but
possesses some work from his hand. One of his works is " Crom.
well's soldiers in Skipton Church."
But, in addition to being a successful artist, Waller was an
indefatigable mechanician and an inventor. It would not be wrong
to say that half his life was spent in perfecting several scientific
discoveries and improvements in mechanism. The discovery of a
new motive power for engines was one of the objects which he
most steadfastly pursued, and one of the schemes on which he set
most store was incomplete at the time of his death. At a time when
the thought of constructing expensive railways had occurred to only few
persons, Mr. Waller was labouring to apply the steam power used in
mills to road conveyances, and upon this scheme he spent much
valuable time and money. Waller always kept a mechanics' shop in
operation, carrying on experiments while he was working at the easle to
supply the necessary funds. The artist died June 25th, 1882, aged
71 years.
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Sorry for the delay in replying...thanks for this but I do have a PDF copy of the book and have seen the paintings at the BBC site. However should you come across anything I would be interested to know what it is.
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Hello, I'm making an investigation about Richard Waller, connected with my History of art studies in the National Academy of Arts in Bulgaria. In the public records of Sofia Art Gallery, I came across a portrait, signed with his name. The portrait is drawn in 1852, and it displays a woman called Wilhelmine. I would like to send you photos of the portrait and the inscriptions on the back, if this is possible. That's how you'll manage to see it and say if this is Richard W. for real. I would be very thankful if you have any additional info about R.W., because everything I have is his biography from Skipton's history and his portraits in BBC website. It is a problem that this issue hasn't been disguisseed in a while and I can not manage to open many of the links. I would really appreciate your help, if this does not bother you :) Thank you in advance.
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Is there anybody out there? :)
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just came across this, im researching my 1st cousin 4x removed George Spencer, and found that the Yorkshire Evening Post dated 15 April 1899, have a piece on George Spencer how he was a policeman come artist, what it does say is that Richard lived George for 14 years. and my george recieved much valuable instructions from Richard.
just looking at the picture in the newpsaper article, of George spencer, did you ever find out who the beared man was?
Weenie
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Richard Waller was living as a boarder with George Spencer in the 1881 Census at 23 Port Street Skipton. I have Richard Waller's death cert and G Spencer is named as the informant and present at death.
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I have been doing some research on my great granduncle; Richard Waller (1811-1882) who was a painter and inventor, I have done a fair bit of research but there are some things that I am not having much luck with or have hit a brick wall with.
Hi there, I have a painting that is signed R Waller 1873. I don't know anything about him, other than what you have written on this Forum and I cannot find any similar work to this on the internet. I have put photographs of the painting on my website http://janebuchanan.co.uk/r-waller-painting
Do you think that is his signature?
Regards
Jane
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Hi there,
Had a bit of trouble replying to your message.
The painting belonged to my Paternal Grandmother who then passed to my Dad then to me.
That's all I know.
Regards
Jane