Walter Smith
Born 1835 (Circa)
Died 14 September 1886
Active: 1856 - 1886
Country of birth and death: England
Headmaster of art school, educator, lecturer, sculptor
Born in Kemerton, Gloucestershire. His older brother, Daniel (born c.1833 in Kemerton, Gloucestershire) was a teacher of drawing in Leeds c.1861 and resident at the address given by Walter in 1860 to the Royal Academy (Graves, p. 193).
According to his obituary in 'The Leeds Mercury', Smith was appointed headmaster of Leeds School of Art c.1856 and held the post for many years. During his time in Leeds he lectured widely on art and significantly enhanced teaching in the locality. Smith's achievements included setting up art classes at Bradford's High School and Mechanics' Institution (c.1860).
His success in Leeds, resulted in him securing a position in art education in the United States. Smith worked in America for several years, afterwards returning to Bradford where he became Principal of the Art Department of the Technical College. His health declined and he died in September 1886. Smith was described as 'an artist of parts' but above all a lecturer on art of 'authority' which gave him 'a reputation of more than local importance.'
Locations
Address 7 Upper Fountain Street Leeds | View on map
1860 (Circa)
His brother Daniel, drawing teacher, was living here in 1861
Address 8 Clarendon Road Leeds | View on map
1871 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1860
Exhibited once, two busts, including one of 'James Hole, Esq., Honorary Secretary of the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics' Institutions', terra cotta, cat. no. 974
Institutional and Business Connections
Headmaster of Leeds College of Art
1860 (Circa) - 1861 (Circa)
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Art Master (head)'
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
Class: RG10; Piece: 4565; Folio: 126; Page: 44; GSU roll: 847142
The Leeds Mercury
LOCAL AND GENERAL.
The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Thursday, September 16, 1886; Issue 15114 (accessed 12 September 2010)
White's Directory and Topography of the Boroughs of Leeds and Bradford, 1861
1861
pp. 214, 260
Citing this record
'Walter Smith', 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/person.php?id=msib5_1213880322, accessed 30 Sep 2023]
