Walter brookes spong
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Walter Brookes Spong, artist, was born in London, England in 1851 and died 2 March 1929 in Nice, France. He was well enough known at the time of his death that his obituary appeared in the New York Times (8 March 1929) where he was described as an English stage and watercolor painter. He is often described as an Australian artist because he moved to Australia in 1886 and was prominent in the art community there. While living in Australia, Spong was the chief scene painter with the Brough and Boucicault Comedy Company and may have accompanied that group to Australia. Spong was a Foundation member of the Australian Artist's Association in 1886 and the Victorian Art Society. Spong married Elizabeth Twedle, and their daughter, Hilda (1875-1955), was a famous actress in theater and movies, working in Australia, Europe, and America. W. B. Spong was a friend of noted Australian artists Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, and others. A letter from Arthur Streeton to Tom Roberts (Croll, 'Smile to Bulldog', Ure Smith, Sydney, 1946) refers to the sale of two pictures by Spong at the Royal Academy exhibition, London, 1898. Spong is mentioned numerous times in "Visual Ephemera: Theatrical Art in Nineteenth-Century Australia" by Anita Callaway, UNSW Press 2000, the source for much of this information.
Spong returned to London in 1898. W. B. Spong was listed as a scene painter in the records of the Royal Adelphi Theater, London in 1900. Spong is listed as a scene painter in the records of various Australian and English theater productions and theaters over several decades. The earliest such mention is from a theater bill in Bristol, England in 1870.
His works have been exhibited at the Royal Art Society of New South Wales, Victorian Artist's Society (Australia), Society of Artists (Australia), Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters, Royal Academy (8) and Walker Gallery (66) in London, among others. His works are represented in the Australian National Gallery, Canberra, Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Manly Art Gallery, The Mitchell Library, Sydney, and The Dixon Galleries, as well as corporate and private collections in Australia, the UK, and the USA.
Spong is mentioned Davenport's Art Reference and Price Guide 2006/2007.
