10 Facts about Alfred Wallis

Tuesday, December 23rd 2014. | Arts


Facts about Alfred Wallis talk about the Cornish fisherman and artist. He was born on 18 August 1855 and passed away on 29 August 1942. You can see that his paintings are affected a lot of by his experience as a fisherman.  Get more facts about Wallis in the below explanation:

Facts about Alfred Wallis 1: parents

His parents are Jane and Charles Wallis. All of them were from Penzance in Cornwall. In 1850, his parents were relocated to Devonport because they wanted to find job here. However, the family returned to Penzance when his mother, Jane passed away.

Facts about Alfred Wallis 2: the life after leaving school

Alfred was an apprentice for a basket maker after he graduated from school. In the beginning of 1870s, he became a mariner for a merchant service. He sailed between Penzance and Newfoundland.

Alfred Wallis Image

Alfred Wallis Image

Facts about Alfred Wallis 3: marriage

It was so amazing to know that Wallis decided to marry an elder woman. His wife was 41 years old and he was 20 years old when both married in 1876 in Penzance at St Mary’s Church. His wife was Susan Ward. When he married her, he became the stepfather of 5 children.

Facts about Alfred Wallis 4: a good wage

He got a good wage as a fisherman in the beginning of his marriage. Then Alfred switched his career in a local fishing and laboring after the death of his two infants.

Alfred Wallis Painting

Alfred Wallis Painting

Facts about Alfred Wallis 5: marine store dealers

Then he made marine stone dealers by buying ropes, sails, and scrap iron in 1890 after his family transferred to St. Ives Cornwall. It was very weird to know that he was involved with odd jobs at the local antique dealer and closed his marine store dealer business in 1912. But this odd job gave him insight about the objects d’art.

Facts about Alfred Wallis 6: death of his wife

In 1922, his wife passed away and he was preoccupied to paint. This man never learned about art painting. He was a self taught artist.

Alfred Wallis Pic

Alfred Wallis Pic

Facts about Alfred Wallis 7: painting style

Wallis’s paintings are unique.  He chose the naïve art to present his painting style. He gave a map like quality in most of his paintings because of the scale of the objects. If you want to know the landscape painter, check out Alfred Sisley facts.

Facts about Alfred Wallis 8: live in a poverty

The work of Wallis impressed the fellow artists such as Wood and Nicholson. Both introduced him to Jim Ede. This man promoted the paintings of Wallis in London.   After the promotion, three were some paintings of Wallis sold in the market. However, it was not able to support his life. He had to live in poverty until he passed away in Madron workhouse in Penzance.

Alfred Wallis

Alfred Wallis

Facts about Alfred Wallis

Facts about Alfred Wallis

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