DOI article:
Reddie, Arthur: A painter of out-door life: Frederic Whiting, R.B.A.
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43455#0129
Frederic IF kiting, R.B.A.
years. Gradually he found his power of painting
returning to him, and, indeed, by such assiduous
work growing apace. So recently as 19 n he
exhibited his first oil-painting at the Royal Society
of British Artists. He applied for membership,
sending up two water-colours, was duly elected,
and the committee, engaged at the moment in
hanging the Spring Exhibition, generously offered
to leave spaces on the line if he would frame the
two drawings submitted in support of his candida-
ture. The same year he showed his first work in
the Royal Academy, The Skewbald Pony ; in 1912
he was represented by a large equestrian group,
Mr. Charles Garvice and his Daughters; and in
1913 his Springtime of Life, one of his best works,
was well hung. A reproduction of this picture
appears among our illustrations.
Since 1911 he has been a regular contributor to
the two annual exhibitions of the R.B.A., sending
on an average six works to each. In the Spring Ex-
hibitions of 1912 ap¬
peared The MasiePs
Daughter and Anglers
among others. Youth
and Age was in the
Autumn Exhibition of the
same year, and in the
following show were hung
Era, March Wind and
A Sporting Idyll. In
the exhibition of the
International Society,
last autumn, Mr.
Whiting was represented
by two water-colours, Sea
Trout and Harriers, and
his Amateur Rider was
in the exhibition of the
Royal Society of Oil
Painters.
If reference has been
made somewhat in detail
to the events of Mr.
Whiting’s career it is be¬
cause there we may find
at any rate a partial ex¬
planation of his almost
meteoric appearance
among artists of . to-day.
Such a life as he has led
must inevitably tend to
develop in a man self-
reliance, force of character
and a just appreciation
114
and valuation of the things in life that really matter.
One would describe him as by nature reserved, and
although in his studio are to be found trophies and
souvenirs of his military adventures—murderous-
looking weapons and medals too—it is not easy to
draw him out to recount the stirring experiences and
to tell tales of the sights and scenes witnessed in his
capacity as war-correspondent. With him the past
is the past; one feels that his whole energy is now
concentrated upon his work as painter, and this
occupies his thoughts and efforts to the exclusion
of all else. No doubt his long experience as a
black-and-white artist has developed in him the
faculty of rapid comprehension of the essentials of
his subject—this is seen very clearly in his water-
colour work, and particularly in his very interesting
preliminary sketches and studies for compositions.
Uninfluenced by any of the extravagant isms of the
moment, Mr. Whiting preserves an independence
of outlook, a frankness and robustness which are,
“EDWARD STANLEY” (OIL PAINTING) BY FREDERIC WHITING, R.B.A..
(By permission of Sir Arthur L. Stanley, K. C.M. G.)
years. Gradually he found his power of painting
returning to him, and, indeed, by such assiduous
work growing apace. So recently as 19 n he
exhibited his first oil-painting at the Royal Society
of British Artists. He applied for membership,
sending up two water-colours, was duly elected,
and the committee, engaged at the moment in
hanging the Spring Exhibition, generously offered
to leave spaces on the line if he would frame the
two drawings submitted in support of his candida-
ture. The same year he showed his first work in
the Royal Academy, The Skewbald Pony ; in 1912
he was represented by a large equestrian group,
Mr. Charles Garvice and his Daughters; and in
1913 his Springtime of Life, one of his best works,
was well hung. A reproduction of this picture
appears among our illustrations.
Since 1911 he has been a regular contributor to
the two annual exhibitions of the R.B.A., sending
on an average six works to each. In the Spring Ex-
hibitions of 1912 ap¬
peared The MasiePs
Daughter and Anglers
among others. Youth
and Age was in the
Autumn Exhibition of the
same year, and in the
following show were hung
Era, March Wind and
A Sporting Idyll. In
the exhibition of the
International Society,
last autumn, Mr.
Whiting was represented
by two water-colours, Sea
Trout and Harriers, and
his Amateur Rider was
in the exhibition of the
Royal Society of Oil
Painters.
If reference has been
made somewhat in detail
to the events of Mr.
Whiting’s career it is be¬
cause there we may find
at any rate a partial ex¬
planation of his almost
meteoric appearance
among artists of . to-day.
Such a life as he has led
must inevitably tend to
develop in a man self-
reliance, force of character
and a just appreciation
114
and valuation of the things in life that really matter.
One would describe him as by nature reserved, and
although in his studio are to be found trophies and
souvenirs of his military adventures—murderous-
looking weapons and medals too—it is not easy to
draw him out to recount the stirring experiences and
to tell tales of the sights and scenes witnessed in his
capacity as war-correspondent. With him the past
is the past; one feels that his whole energy is now
concentrated upon his work as painter, and this
occupies his thoughts and efforts to the exclusion
of all else. No doubt his long experience as a
black-and-white artist has developed in him the
faculty of rapid comprehension of the essentials of
his subject—this is seen very clearly in his water-
colour work, and particularly in his very interesting
preliminary sketches and studies for compositions.
Uninfluenced by any of the extravagant isms of the
moment, Mr. Whiting preserves an independence
of outlook, a frankness and robustness which are,
“EDWARD STANLEY” (OIL PAINTING) BY FREDERIC WHITING, R.B.A..
(By permission of Sir Arthur L. Stanley, K. C.M. G.)