Walker Art Gallery
Other names: Free Public Library and Museum (1871-84)
Foundation date: 1871
Active: 1871 -
Function: Art gallery and museum
Meeting schedule: annual
History or description: 'The Walker Art Gallery is a department of the corporation, and is supported, with the Library and Museum, by a special rate of 1d. in the £, which produces £12,000 a year.' (The Year's Art, 1888, pp. 93-4)
In 1871 'The Library, Museum and Education Committee considering it desirable in the interests of Art, that an exhibition of Pictures should be held in the Autumn of the present year, have, with the sanction of the Corporation of Liverpool resolved to open one as soon as practically possible after the closing in London of the Royal Academy...' (Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1871, p.2)
The 'success of the Exhibition has been beyond the most sanguine expectations. The expenses, which were necessarily heavy have been defrayed, leaving in hand a handsome surplus to be devoted to the purposes of Art.' (19th Annual Report, 1871, p. 5) As a result the autumn exhibition became an annual event. By 1873 the success of the show 'drew attention to the want of a suitable building where a permanent gallery of art might be collected.' In these early years, the gallery was housed within the Free Public Library and Museum. Liverpool council declined to fund the new building but the Mayor, Mr. Andrew Barclay Walker offered £20,000 towards the erection of a new art gallery. The Art Gallery was built between 1874-77 and enlarged between 1881-84, again with a substantial donation from Andrew B. Walker (now a baronet).
'...It now [1888] comprises fourteen rooms, all en suite, and is one of the finest buildings of the kind in the country; the total cost to its munificent donor having been, it is said, nearly £50,000.
A fine collection of works of Art has already been gathered together by donations and purchases, and numbers 397, of which a descriptive catalogue (price 3d.) has been compiled by the Curator...'
'...The gallery is open to the public every week-day except Friday. Students are admitted to copy each morning from 8 to 11 o'clock in summer and 9 to 12 in winter, and for the whole day on Fridays...'
(The Year's Art, 1888, pp. 93-4)
The activities of the Walker Art Gallery were scaled back during the First World War. From March 1918 to December 1919 the whole building was taken over by the government to house the Fuel and Food Control programme. Most of the staff were on active service so the usual activities were suspended for most of this time. No Autumn Exhibition took place between 1917-18, the shows were resumed in 1919 although the permanent collection was not yet reopened.
Exhibitions, Courses, Meetings and other Events
Organized Autumn exhibition: the fifty-eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1930
1930
Organized Autumn exhibition: the fifty-seventh (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1929
1929
Organized Autumn exhibition: the fifty-sixth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1928
1928
Organized Autumn exhibition: the fifty-fifth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1927
1927
Organized Autumn exhibition: the fifty-fourth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1926
1926
Organized Autumn exhibition: the fifty-third (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1925
1925
Organized Autumn exhibition: the fifty-second (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1924
1924
Organized Autumn exhibition: the fifty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1923
1923
Organized Autumn exhibition, Jubilee: the fiftieth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1922
1922
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-ninth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1921
1921
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1920
1920
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-seventh (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1919
1919
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-sixth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1916
1916
Organized The Liverpool Red Cross autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-fifth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1915
1915
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-fourth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1914
1914
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-third (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1913
1913
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-second (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1912
1912
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1911
1911
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the fortieth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1910
1910
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-ninth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1909
1909
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1908
1908
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-seventh (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1907
1907
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-sixth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1906
1906
The 54th annual report for 1907 says: 'In the matter of sculpture the Committee had to contend with the opposition of the Society of British Sculptors, which would not allow its members to contribute, except with the unnecessary and undesirable condition that their representative was admitted a member of the Hanging Committee. It was found, however, that from other sources sufficient sculpture was obtainable for present purposes' (54th Annual Report, 1907, p. 102).
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-fifth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1905
1905
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-fourth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1904
1904
Organized Autumn exhibition of pictures & sculpture: the thirty-third (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1903
1903
Organized Autumn exhibition of pictures & sculpture: the thirty-second (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1902
1902
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-ninth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1899
1899
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1898
1898
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-seventh (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1897
1897
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-sixth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1896
1896
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fifth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1895
1895
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fourth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1894
1894
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-third (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1893
1893
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-second (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1892
1892
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1891
1891
Organized Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the twentieth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1890
1890
Organized Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the nineteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1889
1889
Organized Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the eighteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1888
1888
Organized Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the seventeenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1887
1887
Organized Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the sixteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1886
1886
Organized Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the fifteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1885
1885
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the fourteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1884
1884
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the thirteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1883
1883
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the twelfth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1882
1882
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the eleventh (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1881
1881
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the tenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1880
1880
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the ninth (Liverpool), 1879
1879
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1878
1878
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the seventh (Liverpool), 1877
1877
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the fifth (Free Public Library and Museum, Liverpool), 1875
1875
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the fourth (Free Public Library and Museum, Liverpool), 1874
1874
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the third (Free Public Library and Museum, Liverpool), 1873
1873
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the second (Free Public Library and Museum, Liverpool), 1872
1872
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the first (Free Public Library and Museum, Liverpool), 1871
1871
Organized Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the thirty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1901
1901
Organized Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the sixth (Liverpool), 1876
'[...] the number of [works] sold and the amount realised was not equal to the previous year. This is easily to be accounted for from the depression in trade' (24th Annual Report, 1877, p. 17).
Institutional and Business Connections
Collaborated with Royal Academy of Arts
1898
The Royal Academy lent 'a bust of Sir J. E. Millais., P.R.A., by Mr. Onslow Ford, R.A.' to the Walker Gallery, 'at Mr. Ford's request'. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1898', (1899), p. 10.
Collaborated with Royal Academy of Arts
1898
The Royal Academy lent a bust of Sir J. E. Millais to the Walker Art Gallery, 'at the request of Mr. Onslow Ford, R.A.'. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1898', (1899), p. 10.
Associated People
Commissioned John Warrington Wood
1875 - 1878
To create statues for the newly built Walker Art Gallery. The subjects were: Michelangelo representing sculpture; Raphael representing painting (placed on either side of the portico); and an allegorical figure of Liverpool (on the summit of the pediment). Four low reliefs representing events in the history of the city were added c.1878.
Employed Charles Dyall
1877 - 1904
First curator of the Walker Art Gallery
Employed Edward Rimbault Dibdin
1904 - 1920
Second curator of the Walker Art Gallery
Employed Arthur G. Quigley
1920
Originally appointed as assistant curator to E. Rimbault Dibdin, Quigley became the third curator of the Walker Art Gallery on Dibdin's retirement
Sources
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the fortieth, 1910 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1910
pp. 65-8
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-eighth, 1920 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1920
pp. 75-80
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-first, 1911 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1911
pp. 60-4
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-ninth, 1921 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1921
pp. 73-7
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-second, 1912 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1912
pp. 81-8
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-seventh, 1919 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1919
pp. 75-80
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-sixth, 1916 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1916
pp. 96-101
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-third, 1913 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1913
pp. 97-104
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-eighth, 1908 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1908
pp. 56-8
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-fifth, 1905 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1905
pp. 46-9
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-fourth, 1904 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1904
pp. 49-52
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-ninth, 1909 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1909
pp. 59-61
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-seventh, 1907 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1907
pp. 51-4
Autumn exhibition of modern art: the thirty-sixth, 1906 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1906
pp. 44-7
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-eighth, 1898 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1898
pp. 45-8
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fifth, 1895 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1895
pp. 47-50
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-first, 1891 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1891
pp. 47-9
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fourth, 1894 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1894
pp. 49-52
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-ninth, 1899 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1899
pp. 48-52
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-second, 1892 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1892
pp. 42-5 and 47-9
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-seventh, 1897 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1897
pp. 44-7
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-sixth, 1896 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1896
pp. 45-8
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-third, 1893 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1893
pp. 42-5
Autumn exhibition of pictures & sculpture: the thirty-second, 1902 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1902
pp. 42-7
Autumn exhibition of pictures & sculpture: the thirty-third, 1903 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1903
pp. 43-7
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the eighteenth, 1888 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1888
pp. 54A-56A
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the fifteenth, 1885 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1885
pp. 85-7
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the nineteenth, 1889 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1889
pp. 40-2
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the seventeenth, 1887 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1887
pp. 74-6
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the sixteenth, 1886 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1886
pp. 79-80
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the twentieth, 1890 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1890
pp. 46-8
Autumn exhibition, Jubilee: the fiftieth, 1922 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1922
pp. 78-82
Autumn exhibition: the fifty-eighth, 1930 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1930
pp. 88-93
Autumn exhibition: the fifty-fifth, 1927 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1927
pp. 85-90
Autumn exhibition: the fifty-first, 1923 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1923
pp. 78-82
Autumn exhibition: the fifty-fourth, 1926 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1926
pp. 86-92
Autumn exhibition: the fifty-second, 1924 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1924
pp. 80-5
Autumn exhibition: the fifty-seventh, 1929 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1929
pp. 79-82
Autumn exhibition: the fifty-sixth, 1928 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1928
pp. 82-7
Autumn exhibition: the fifty-third, 1925 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1925
pp. 67-73
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1871 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1871
p. 31
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1872 Walker Art Gallery
1872
p. 35
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1873 Walker Art Gallery
1873
pp. 39-40
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1874 Walker Art Gallery
1874
pp. 42-3
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1875 Walker Art Gallery
1875
pp. 41-2
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1876 Walker Art Gallery
1876
Sculpture exhibitors section missing from copy in Walker Art Gallery
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1877 Walker Art Gallery
1877
pp. 69-71
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1878 Walker Art Gallery
1878
pp. 59-60
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1879 Walker Art Gallery
1879
pp. 79-82
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1880 Walker Art Gallery
1880
pp. 67-9
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1881 Walker Art Gallery
1881
pp. 81-2
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1882 Walker Art Gallery
1882
pp. 90-1
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1883 Walker Art Gallery
1883
pp. 93-4
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1884 Walker Art Gallery
1884
pp. 129-32
The Liverpool Red Cross autumn exhibition of modern art: the forty-fifth, 1915 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1915
pp. 100-7
Citing this record
'Walker Art Gallery', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=ann_1253108399, accessed 03 Oct 2023]
