Arthur Wilde Parsons RWA, lived in Redland, Bristol and was one of the celebrated Bristol Savages group of artists. He worked, and exhibited, at the Royal Academy from 1876.

There are 14 of his works in the Bristol Art Gallery collection: 4 watercolours and 10 oils. One oil, “Weston Pier and Sands”, has been on display in the Victorian gallery for many years.

He painted large historical scenes, such as “The Launch of the Great Western”, and specialised in marine subjects. Having helped found the Savages in 1904, there are several of his works in their collection including a very fine seascape: “Waves breaking over Cornish Cliffs”.

He was quiet and reserved, with a beard and a pipe. A past Savages president, Charlie Thomas, wrote of him: “his kindly and genial personality endeared him to his brothers of the brush”. We can see this from the chalk on brown paper self-portrait, signed with his initials and dated 1900.

The cost of £250 to purchase this work was met in full by The Friends.

This item is included in the current ‘What’s New?’ exhibition in the Watercolour Gallery