William Salter (artist)
William Salter | |
---|---|
Born | 1804 |
Died | 1875 (aged 70–71) London, England |
Nationality | British |
Known for | Portrait painting |
Notable work | The Waterloo Banquet |
4 William Salter (1804 – 22 December 1875) was an English
Biography
Salter was born in 1856 (baptised on 26 December 1804) and educated in
His most famous work is The Waterloo Banquet (1836) in Apsley House, which depicts a commemorative banquet held by the Duke of Wellington at Apsley House on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in 1836.
The painting of the Waterloo Banquet
The story is that Salter was on his horse in
The centrepiece of the banquet was a large centrepiece that is over a metre wide and over eight metres long. It was a present from the government of Portugal and was made from silver that came from melting down coins. The silver and gilt metalwork was designed by Domingos Antonio de Sequeira and shows the victories of the Napoleonic wars. This silverware and Salter's painting are both today at Apsley House.[6]
Salter painted scores of military figures as preparation for the Waterloo banquet painting and many of these are now in the
The banquet that is shown is the one in 1836 when
The King is sitting at Wellington's right as the Duke proposes a toast. The idea of choosing this moment is not by chance. Salter had a problem of composition as he had to deliver a good likeness of over eighty people. As a banquet usually would result in half of the people facing away from a viewer he chose this moment so that the celebrants could more naturally be displayed facing to the side as they sat in conversational groups.[3]
The painting was engraved and was very popular. Tickets were sold to people who wanted to see the painting when it was exhibited in 1841. An 1846 engraving by William Greatbach of the painting also sold well. It was proposed in 1852 to purchase the painting from the artist by public subscription, however this failed to achieve its goal probably due to the Duke's death in September 1852. The painting remained unsold and passed down to Salter's heirs.[3]
The painting is now displayed at Apsley House. The tradition of holding a banquet of the anniversary of the day of the battle still continues today.
Other work
His picture of Socrates before his Judges was painted whilst he was in Italy and is credited with his favourable reception in Florence and Padua.[2]
In 1835, a new church was built in Honiton. Salter paid for and painted an altarpiece called Descent from the Cross for his hometown in 1838.[8]
Salter was a lifelong member of the Florentine academy and he painted a range of subjects, but he is primarily known for his banquet painting and the related portraits. He, and his patron Lady Burghersh, exhibited at the
References
- ^ Redgrave, Samuel (1878). "Salter, William". A dictionary of artists of the English school: painters, sculptors, architects, engravers and ornamentalists: with notices of their lives and works. London: George Bell & Sons. p. 375.
- ^ a b c Freeman Marius O'Donogue (1897). . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 50. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ a b c d "The Waterloo Banquet 1836". Historical Portraits. Philip Mould Ltd. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ Weigall, Lady Rose, ed. (1903). CORRESPONDENCE OF LADY BURGHERSH WITH THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON (PDF). p. 220.
- ^ Timbs, John (1852). Wellingtonia: anecdotes, maxims and characteristics of the Duke of Wellington p.134-5. Ingram Cooks. p. 152.
- ^ Heath, Diana. "Portugal's Silver Service". Victoria and Albert Museum. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ Salter, William. "Oil painting of Sempronius Stretton in the National Portrait Gallery". Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ Kelly (1902). Kelly's directory. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- ^ William Salter at the National Portrait Gallery, accessed 30 October 2010
- ^ Paths of Glory. Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery. 1997. p. 87.