Frank Percy Wild - Artist


F Percy Wild signature (1861-1950), Self portrait in pastels, 1915. Welcome to this page all about the Victorian artist, my grandfather, Frank Percy Wild.

Wild coat of arms, the good times will come Read his biography
Family album and history
Royal Academy
Auction results
View picture gallery

Contact me with comments or new pictures to add to the gallery

For a bit of fun, why not try the puzzle page ?

Last updated on 26/09/07


Biography

Frank Percy Wild was born to Thomas and Elizabeth on 4th March 1861 in Leeds, Yorkshire and studied in Antwerp before finding fame as a portrait artist, doing commissions in America and landscapes of the Thames, near his family home of Marlow. He was listed in Who's Who 1941-50 and was a keen player in the cricket team and was seen about town dressed in Norfolk jacket, cycling breeches and tweed cap, accompanied by his smooth-haired black and white terrier. He was also interested in golf, punting, tennis and motor cycling. He married Beatrice Emily Chilcott in 1883 and moved to a large isolated house named Gossmore in Marlow, at around 1895. Unfortunately, this house is now surrounded by other houses and the Marlow bypass overhead. There is a room named after the house in his honour at Glade End guest house. He had three children, Mona, who died aged 2, Enid, much painted and with gorgeous auburn hair (why she never married is a mystery) and Douglas, who was my father.

His education was at Leeds Grammar School and Yorkshire College, his parents moving from Camp Road, Leeds to Bramley Grange, Thorner (now a teacher training College). He started training in engineering but took up art in 1884, studying in Antwerp, Paris and Spain, and in 1900 he was elected as a member of the Royal Society of British Arts. Between 1889 and 1926 he exhibited 20 paintings at the Royal Academy. He travelled extensively in America during 1907-1914, as recorded in the Ellis Island records, exhibiting and portrait painting in New York, South Carolina, Baltimore and Detroit. After his death on 14th April 1950, some of his paintings hung for several years in the council offices in Court Gardens, Marlow. He was buried at All Saints church, with the grave in a picturesque spot by his beloved Thames, opposite the Compleat Angler hotel and restaurant.

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Academy

The following were hung at the Royal Academy

1889 "The flute player", "Spring blooms","Homewards","Missed"
1890 "Fun"
1891 "Feeding time"
1892 "At the Rendezvous"
1895 "Happy days with old Father Thames"
1896 "A lesson in punting"
1897 "The morning swim"
1900 "Sweet summer time","In sight"
1901 "The Innocents", "Enthusiasts"
1902 "Iris & Vera Ford"
1905 "Where the waterlilies grow"
1906 "The ghost gallery"
1912 "Enid"
1919 "Enid"
1926 "Lt.Gen. Sir Herbert Uniacke"
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Auctions

Some of my sources of information were artfact.com , artprice.com and findartinfo.com
Do contact me about any inaccuracies or new information. Thank you.
For news of forthcoming auctions see: Sothebys, Christies, Phillips, Bonhams

TitleSize(ins)DatePrice(£)Auctioneer
Traws Afon 191920x2920/08/2007230Bonhams
Rabbit Shooting23x3107/03/20071080?
Porth Meudwy 191920x3011/01/2006228Christies
Rev. Powell & wife20x2422/11/2005640Bonhams
Thomas Wild14x1011/01/2005250Bonhams
Mary Wild14x1011/01/2005250Bonhams
Enid36x2409/11/20041800Bonhams
Little Miss.Mischief50x4021/01/20044800Sothebys
Patience36x2427/11/200314400Sothebys
Picking berries21x2927/11/20038160Sothebys
Children in a Mediterranean doorway23x1808/03/20012200Christies
as above13/06/2000750Capes Dunn, Manchester
A water picnic 24x3608/03/20017600Christies
as above16/06/1998??
Continental lady, seated27x2114/11/2000450Phillips
Winter landscape, with figure26x1625/03/2000443Sloans, Miami
Feeding time36x2403/06/1999??
as above18/03/19861200Christies
His only pair50x3115/09/19985500Christies
Learning to punt33x4407/11/199745000Christies
Edith Hodgett's portrait17x1321/10/1997800Sothebys
Sit up and beg14x1112/06/19977800Bonhams
Horses returning home13x1806/06/19971850Christies
as above24/04/1996520Phillips, Tyne & Wear
Study of lady in blue44x3416/06/1994??
Girl and doll22x1616/11/1994600Bonhams
In sight43x3316/6/19945500Bonhams
The boathouse15x2008/02/19941200Phillips
No.3 The sailing reach, Bourne End8x1216/04/1993??
Un coin en Italie12x1617/02/1993??
Canal at Gyldenscroft8x1614/07/1992580Dreweatt Neate, Newbury
The picnic12x1614/06/199116000Christies
as above02/04/19909300Woodley and Wallis, Salisbury
By the Scheide, Antwerp22x3312/04/19891050Sothebys
The village street21x1713/02/19871300Christies
Portrait of a lady24x2012/01/1987440Sothebys
Picking water lilies24x3512/04/19854000Sothebys
Peasant and donkey29x3920/10/1983350Sothebys
Granada30x4029/01/19821050Phillips
Afternoon on the river24x3631/10/19801496Christies, New York
Fun at the ocean18x1422/09/1978357Charles galleries, Pontiac

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