‘An Ettymological study?’

Mlle Rachel by Willaim Etty

Last week’s mystery person was Wilfrid Thesiger, travel writer and adventurer. The post completed a set of four men and women who turned their backs on Western civilisation.

Let’s turn our attention to artists. Have you heard of William Etty? Born in 1787, he was a gifted painter but perhaps a rather strange chap. A very shy man, he continued to attend student life- drawing classes all his life, lived with a young niece for years, and specialised in painting nudes in historical settings. He is also said to have possessed an impressive collection of masterpieces which he displayed in his flat.

He enjoyed commercial success, then went out of fashion, then recovered by turning to portraiture but after his death in 1849 his popularity and reputation declined, partly because his earlier works were regarded as ever so slightly pornographic, and possibly because lots of other artists developed similar skills. His works have recently enjoyed a renaissance and featured in various prominent exhibitions.

Late in life he moved back to his native York where you can see his statue outside the city’s art gallery.

Etty features in my next walk: ‘A Cultural Tour of Embankment and Strand’ on May 24th at 11.00am.