File:Frederick Walker and his works (1897) (14590857779).jpg

Identifier: frederickwalkerh00phil (find matches)
Title: Frederick Walker and his works
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Phillips, Claude, Sir, 1848-1924
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Seeley and Co. New York : Macmillan
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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are thought out withtenderness, though with a shade of sentimentality. Still we have ratherthe elements of the picture than the picture itself; the elaboration fromseparate centres has arrested the sources of life. The finished pen-and-inksketch of The Vagrants, which appeared at the exhibition of the oldSociety in 1870-1 was apparently not a preliminary study for, but areduction from the original. The Old Gate, which appeared at the Royal Academy in 1869, mustcount as one of the three or four representative performances in the samestyle upon which the fame of Walker is mainly built ; the others beingThe Vagrants, The Plough, and The Harbour of Refuge. Through the weather-worn stone gate which gives its name to thepicture, down the long flight of steps which leads from the manor-house,slowly walks the pensive widow, draped rather than clad in her sableweeds ; a sturdy country wench has opened the gate, and, as she passesthrough, gazes up sympathetically at her. Lower down on the steps
Text Appearing After Image:
FREDERICK WALKER 4.9 children are playing, and to the right of the picture is one of Walkersmost characteristic groups, that of two workmen, man and boy, who,interrupting their walk with a respectful curiosity, await the comingof the widow. The man stands erect in the conscious pride ofearly manhood, wearing with the grace of untrammelled ease his suitof fustian ; with one hand he rests his spade on his broad shoulder, withthe other, by a half unconscious movement happily indicated, he takeshis pipe from his mouth. The youthful prentice workman appearssomehow in attendance on the elder, much as the youths of the ParthenonFrieze are in attendance on the young warriors. The figures are framed in a landscape prospect which in execution isone of the artists best, and what is more, delicately harmonizes with thepensive mood of the central figure. Most accurately observed, too, andfinely rendered is the moss-eaten stone of the old gateway. Stately nakedtrees, such as Walker loved to depict

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