Alexander Williams (artist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Williams
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| Born | 21 April 1846 The Diamond, Monaghan town, Ireland
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| Died | 15 November 1930 (aged 84) |
Alexander Williams (born April 21, 1846 – died November 15, 1930) was a talented Irish artist. He was known for painting beautiful landscapes and scenes of the sea. But he wasn't just a painter! He was also an expert on birds (an ornithologist), someone who prepared animal specimens (a taxidermist), and even a professional singer.
Early Life and Family
Alexander Williams was born in Monaghan Town, Ireland, on April 21, 1846. His father, William Williams, was a hatter, meaning he made and sold hats. Alexander grew up in Drogheda, County Louth, where his family lived above their hat shop.
The Williams family had been hat makers for many generations. In 1860, Alexander's family moved to Dublin. Their first hat shop in Dublin was on Westmoreland Street.
On April 4, 1881, Alexander married Kitty Gray. They had one daughter and one son, George.
Starting a Business: Taxidermy
When his father's hat business slowed down, Alexander and his brother Edward started a new business. They became taxidermists, preparing and preserving animal specimens. Their father had learned some basic taxidermy skills and taught his sons.
For a while, the hat shop and the taxidermy shop shared the same building at 1 Dame Street in Dublin. It was a bit of a funny competition! Edward wanted to fill the shop window with amazing stuffed birds. But his father wanted to keep showing off his hats.
Eventually, the birds, along with other preserved animals and fish, won the "battle." The taxidermy business became very popular. When they moved to a new shop next door, the whole front window was filled with lifelike animals. People would often stop to admire the display.
In 1866, a fire broke out in their taxidermy workshop. This fire sadly destroyed their family business. But by the 1870s, the business was successful again. They had many clients, including private collectors and important places like the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History.
Even while working as a hatter and then a taxidermist, Alexander loved to paint. An artist named William Brocas visited the hat shop one day. Alexander's father suggested he show Brocas some of his paintings. Brocas looked at Alexander and said he had a "fine head," but then added that he should "make a sweep of him first" instead of an artist. This made Alexander's father doubt his painting dreams.
Becoming an Artist
Alexander didn't give up on painting. He asked a photographer and artist named Forster for advice. Forster told him, "Sit down in the first ditch you come to and try and paint what you see!" This simple advice helped Alexander learn on his own. He mostly taught himself to paint, though he did take some drawing lessons at the Royal Dublin Society. He painted using both oil and watercolor paints.
In 1870, Alexander showed his painting Hard Times at the Royal Hibernian Academy's annual exhibition. It was a winter scene with birds. The next year, he sold his first paintings there. He continued to show his art at the academy every year until he died, exhibiting over 450 paintings!
Alexander eventually left the taxidermy business. He became a professional singer, joining the Chapel Royal at Dublin Castle. A very important moment for him was visiting Achill Island off the coast of Mayo. He wrote to his father, saying he had found a place in Ireland with endless opportunities for an artist. He wanted to make Achill Island his special place and show its amazing scenery to the world.
The next year, he helped start the Dublin Sketching Club. He also regularly showed his paintings with the Water Colour Society of Ireland.
In 1884, Alexander became an associate member of the Royal Hibernian Academy. He then held his first solo art show in Dublin. He continued to have solo exhibitions almost every year until 1926. His art was also shown in other countries, including England, Switzerland, Canada, and America. At the World Fair in Chicago in 1893, his painting Sweet Dublin Bay was displayed.
In 1899, Alexander rented a ruined cottage and some land on Achill Island. Over several years, he built a house and created a garden there. He even kept a diary between 1906 and 1913 about his time on the island.
In 1911, a company called Blackie & Son asked him to create paintings for a series of books called Beautiful Ireland.
While most of his art showed natural landscapes, he also painted scenes of Dublin. He often painted buildings and streets that were about to be torn down. After his solo exhibition in Dublin in 1901, a newspaper called the Irish Times praised him. They said he had helped people appreciate the beauty of Irish scenery, especially places like Achill Island.
Death and Legacy
Alexander Williams passed away on November 15, 1930. He left behind many important papers, including diaries, memoirs, and letters. These papers help us learn more about his life and work.
Today, you can find his artwork in several museums and galleries. The National Gallery of Ireland, the Hugh Lane Gallery, and the Monaghan County Museum each own one of his paintings. The National Library of Ireland and the Crawford Art Gallery have some of his sketches. The Lake Hotel in Killarney also has several of his works.
