Willson Group

The Willson Group of artists (active c. 1860–1906) was an English Quaker family of about seven landscape, portrait and caricature painters.

Michael and Mary achieved commissions including caricatures of prominent Leeds public figures such as Sir James Kitson and John Barran MP, and portraits in oils of Isaac and Ann Rickett and George Corson.

[4] They "owned and farmed much of the land across the Hawkshead, Coniston and Langdale valleys," extending and refurbishing an upper storey to the house in the nineteenth century.

It collapsed in 1901, however it is reasonable to suppose that it was the income from J.J. Willson's senior directorship of this firm which permitted his family's dedication to art until around 1900.

[19][20] From at least 1897 to 1902 the family were at a house called Ballamona, Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds; it was rented from architect George Corson.

[19][22][23] Hannah died aged 89 years on 7 July 1918 at the Victoria Home, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds, of chronic nephritis.

"[3] Ultimately the family firm failed, J.J. fell ill with dropsy and "graver symptoms," and died at his sister's house at High Wray, Ambleside on 15 November 1903, aged 67 years.

It is a small society which makes no pretense to an artistic mission, but does something for the mutual encouragement of its members not only to practise, but still more to appreciate, art.

J.J. Willson, dedicated to raising funds for, and founding, the building of a permanent public fine art gallery.

"[29] By 1888, Leeds Town Hall had indeed taken the matter in hand, taken much of the credit for the idea, and arranged funds to complete the cost of building, and for maintenance of the gallery.

[3][14][40] Meanwhile, from 1880 the YFAE held a five-year lease for exhibitions in the Athenaeum Building, Park Lane (now The Headrow), Leeds.

After J.J.'s death, the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer said this:[38] "John Joseph Willson ... had reached a degree of proficiency in his art which entitled him to be judged without consideration of his amateurship.

Though he had never gone through the mill of technical training he had from the days when he wasted his school time by drawing engines on his slate, always dabbled in art.

In his later years, indeed, he had done more than dabble, for he devoted to his water-colour work all the time which a business man could spare from his daily toil, working frequently, if not chiefly, by artificial light - a condition anything but favourable for appreciating the niceties of colouring, and sufficiently accounting for what was perhaps the least satisfactory aspect of his art.

The facility in handling he attained was certainly remarkable, and on this account alone his happiest efforts in landscape-work were capable of holding their own in any of the exhibitions of current art to which he contributed, while the drawing which was some years ago hung in the permanent collection of the Leeds Public Art Gallery is alike worthy of the collection and of the painter who will thus be lastingly commemorated in his native town.

[He was] a lovable [man], full of generous enthusiasm, and possessing a winning manner, and an old-fashioned courtliness that made [his] company very enjoyable.

[56][nb 5] She died aged 60 years on 18 January 1899 at Ballamona, Headingley, of Influenza, pleuropneumonia, and cardiac failure.

"[60][nb 6] Michael died aged 79 years on 27 December 1943 at 25 Somme Avenue, Ravenstown, Lower Holker, of myocardial degeneration, arteriosclerosis and enlarged prostate.

[19][68][14] Margaret died aged 63 years on 8 March 1932 at The Bungalow, Hill of Oaks, Cartmel Fell, of acute enteritis and neurasthenia.

[56][75] In 1901 she won a National Queen's Prize for art there, coming joint fifth in the United Kingdom, listed as Mary Hilliard Willson.

[56] Mary died aged 54 years on 30 March 1928, of Brown muscular atrophy of the heart at The Bungalow, Hill of Oaks, Cartmel Fell Rural District.