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Wallis - The Man |
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| Wallis was described in The Artist
(October 1986) as: "an
eccentric, irascible, diminutive, impoverished old
sea-dog-turned-scrap-dealer-turned-artist". Add to
that list, proud, stubborn, independent, single-minded, succinct,
loyal, devout, courageous, cheerful, generous.... he was all of
these and more. The last two adjectives might surprise some people,
but that is certainly the impression that emerges when one delves
further into his character. Irascible is an adjective that crops up time after time, the best definition of which is "disposed toward or easily provoked to anger". However, there was undoubtedly an ebullient side to his nature, enthusiastic, bouncy, brash, buoyant. Those who knew him bear testament to these positive traits, yet the 'irascible' side to his personality which developed during his last few years is the side that endures in myth. Having read many contemporary accounts, I can only conclude that he was a rather introverted character, slightly detached, but sprightly and openly enthusiastic about his new-found 'hobby'. As Christopher Wood described in a letter to Ben Nicholson in 1928: "I see him each day for a second, he's bright and cheery..." (Matthew Gale, Alfred Wallis, 1998) His relationship with Nicholson was warm: He enjoyed talking about his paintings, speaking of them not as paintings but as events or experiences. (Ben Nicholson - Matthew Gale, Alfred Wallis, 1998) Other accounts worth noting are: "Alfred Wallis was aloof, very dignified, but very nice" Alethea Garstin - quoted from The Innocent Eye, Marion Whybrow. "From the conversations I have had I gain the impression of a man of integrity who was courageous and cheerful, and extremely generous to his step-children". (Roger Slack) St Ives was an extremely close-knit community, and by the time Wallis took up painting he had resided in the town for some 25 years. Although not a "St Ives man", he would have been regarded as part of the community and he would have been respected as such. He was involved for many years in the town's Salvation Army. Continued - Page 2... |
