Frederick Edward McWilliam
McWilliam was born in Banbridge, Co. Down and attended the Belfast College of Art, before attending the Slade School of Fine Art in London.
"In 1931, F.E. McWilliam travelled to Paris on a Robert Ross Leaving Scholarship from the Slade with fellow student Beth Crowther, from Golear, near Huddersfield, whom he was to marry in March 1932 at St. John's Presbyterian Church, Kensington, London. The McWilliams intended to live, study and work in Paris since: 'it was the mecca, and the whole atmosphere testified to this; holy ground, full of memories of Cιzanne and the presence of Picasso.' He met Zadkine and visited his studio and he also went to Brancusi's studio and was given an extensive tour by the Romanian sculptor with long discussions on his work practice.
However, in 1932/33 sterling collapsed against the French franc and both Beth and "Mac" (as he was known affectionately by his friends) were forced to return to England where they rented a home in Chartridge, Buckinghamshire set in a cherry orchard surrounded by sycamores. The couple only produced paintings when in Paris as sculpture was taught as a secondary subject at the Slade when McWilliam studied there and paintings were easier to sell, easier to execute and much easier to transport.
However, with the ready material of fallen cherry trees and the space available McWilliam began carving, which was his first love. He had befriended the Belfast sculptor George MacCann (1909-67) as students in London and through him was introduced to Henry Moore. MacCann had been a student of Moore's at the Royal College of Art. Moore was, at the time, a carver in stone and wood and his influence then was enormous, not only in England but also internationally."
-[excerpt from catologue entry for Matriarch, 1935; lot 50, IRISH & INTERNATIONAL ART - 26 SEPTEMBER 2016] Dr Denise Ferran, August 2016
McWilliam taught sculpture at both the Chelsea and Slade Schools of Art, London. He produced a number of large scale public sculptures and his works are in many public collections, including MOMA (New York) and Tate Britain. Banbridge District Council opened a gallery and studio dedicated to the work of and named after McWilliam, in September 2009.
"In 1931, F.E. McWilliam travelled to Paris on a Robert Ross Leaving Scholarship from the Slade with fellow student Beth Crowther, from Golear, near Huddersfield, whom he was to marry in March 1932 at St. John's Presbyterian Church, Kensington, London. The McWilliams intended to live, study and work in Paris since: 'it was the mecca, and the whole atmosphere testified to this; holy ground, full of memories of Cιzanne and the presence of Picasso.' He met Zadkine and visited his studio and he also went to Brancusi's studio and was given an extensive tour by the Romanian sculptor with long discussions on his work practice.
However, in 1932/33 sterling collapsed against the French franc and both Beth and "Mac" (as he was known affectionately by his friends) were forced to return to England where they rented a home in Chartridge, Buckinghamshire set in a cherry orchard surrounded by sycamores. The couple only produced paintings when in Paris as sculpture was taught as a secondary subject at the Slade when McWilliam studied there and paintings were easier to sell, easier to execute and much easier to transport.
However, with the ready material of fallen cherry trees and the space available McWilliam began carving, which was his first love. He had befriended the Belfast sculptor George MacCann (1909-67) as students in London and through him was introduced to Henry Moore. MacCann had been a student of Moore's at the Royal College of Art. Moore was, at the time, a carver in stone and wood and his influence then was enormous, not only in England but also internationally."
-[excerpt from catologue entry for Matriarch, 1935; lot 50, IRISH & INTERNATIONAL ART - 26 SEPTEMBER 2016] Dr Denise Ferran, August 2016
McWilliam taught sculpture at both the Chelsea and Slade Schools of Art, London. He produced a number of large scale public sculptures and his works are in many public collections, including MOMA (New York) and Tate Britain. Banbridge District Council opened a gallery and studio dedicated to the work of and named after McWilliam, in September 2009.
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'MATRIARCH, 1935'
- Price Realised: 90,000
- Sale: 26 September 2016
- cherrywood; (unique)
- 22 x 9 x 7in. (55.88 x 22.86 x 17.78cm)
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'MAN AND WIFE, 1934'
- Price Realised: 70,000
- Sale: 29 May 2017
- sycamore wood; (unique)
- 16½ x 8½ x 5½in. (41.91 x 21.59 x 13.97cm)
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'BIRDWATCHER, 1964'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 29 May 2023
- bronze with black patina; (no. 1 from an edition of 5)
- 10 x 6 x 5in. (25.40 x 15.24 x 12.70cm)
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'THE JUDO PLAYERS'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 26 September 2016
- bronze; (no. 1 from an edition of 5)
- 22 x 16 x 9in. (55.88 x 40.64 x 22.86cm)
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'GIRL WITH HAND ON HIP'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 26 September 2016
- bronze; (no. 3 from an edition of 5)
- 6 x 14½ x 4Ύin. (15.24 x 36.83 x 12.07cm)
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'LOVING CUP, 1966'
- Price Realised: 4,800
- Sale: 02 October 2017
- bronze with a polished gold patina; (no.1 from an edition of 5)
- 14Ό x 7Όin. (36.20 x 18.42cm)
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'TRIAD, 1959'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 04 December 2023
- bronze with grey and blue patina; (unique)
- 43½ x 25½ x 8in. (110.49 x 64.77 x 20.32cm)
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'JOY THROUGH STRENGTH, 1966'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 29 May 2023
- bronze; (artist's proof from an edition of 5)
- 7 x 7 x 4in. (17.78 x 17.78 x 10.16cm)
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'PAS DE QUATRE, 1981'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 02 October 2017
- plaster; (painted)
- 78in. (198.12cm)
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'WINGED FIGURE'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 17 February 2004
- cast bronze
- 27 by 0cm., 10.7 by in.
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'WOMEN OF BELFAST'
- Price Realised: 3,600
- Sale: 18 February 2003
- pen and ink with wash
- 28 by 39cm., 11 by 15.5in.
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'MAN AND WIFE, c. mid 1930s to late 1940s'
- Price Realised: 1,100
- Sale: 10 October 2011
- transferred ink and wash
- 42 by 55cm., 16.5 by 21.5in.
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'MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, 1956'
- Price Realised: 1,000
- Sale: 23 October 2023
- pen and ink
- 11 x 8½in. (27.94 x 21.59cm)
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'STUDIES FOR WOMEN OF BELFAST, 1972'
- Price Realised: 950
- Sale: 26 November 2012
- pen, ink and wash on paper
- 11 by 16in., 27.94 by 40.64cm.
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'STUDIES FOR WOMEN OF BELFAST, 1972'
- Price Realised: 900
- Sale: 25 May 2020
- pen, ink and wash on paper
- 11 x 16in. (27.94 x 40.64cm)
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'WOMAN OF BELFAST, 1973'
- Price Realised: 440
- Sale: 17 February 2020
- lithograph in colours; (no. 31 from an edition of 90)
- 22 x 23in. (55.88 x 58.42cm)