William Aiken Walker (American/South Carolina, 1838-1921) oil on academy board painting depicting the Charleston Battery. At center left, two figures walk along the promenade before a row of mansions overlooking Charleston Harbor, with a cloudy gray sky overhead. Partial signature lower right. Partial F.W. Devoe Artist Supply label en verso. Unframed. 13" W x 6 1/2" H. Note: At far right, one can see the William Ravenel House at 13 Battery Street, constructed 1845. Its original facade featured Corinthian columns which were destroyed in the earthquake of 1885 and are not present in this image. Next to it is 9 East Battery, the William Roper House, built 1838. It has been a National Historic Landmark since 1973 and was restored by the Richard Jenrette Foundation. The Italianate stucco house at 5 East Battery was built by John Ravenel in 1848; it also suffered damage in the 1885 earthquake but was rebuilt to its original appearance and later painted. It is now popularly known as "The Pink House". (There is no house at 3 East Battery.) 1 East Battery, at far left, is shown here in its original bi-color facade. The home was constructed for Louis DeSaussure in 1858-60; the iron balconies seen here were added by its second owner, Bernard O'Neill, who bought the house in 1888, making it likely that this painting was completed by Walker sometime around 1890-1920. (By the 1920s, the metal roof balustrade seen in this painting had been removed.) (Source: Historic Charleston Foundation).

Biography: The son of a prominent cotton agent, Charleston-born William Aiken Walker exhibited his first painting at the South Carolina Institute Fair at the age of 12. He went to Europe to study art in 1860 but returned to America during the Civil War, in which he served as a Confederate private and, following an injury, as a cartographer. After the war, Walker became primarily known for his prolific Southern scenes, mostly depicting rural plantations and the daily life of African Americans. His city/architectural views of Charleston are far more rare.

PROVENANCE: By descent in the historic Pinckney family of South Carolina. For a discussion of Walker's close relationship with the family, ref. WILLIAM AIKEN WALKER: SOUTHERN GENRE PAINTER, Trovaioli and Toledano, Preface XV and p. 22. 

Loss to lower edge of board, including part of the artist's signature. Additional losses to paint along right side of board, affecting a 5" x 1/4" section of the image. The top edge of the board has scratches and flaking affecting a 3/4" H section of the image, plus 3 pin holes with small areas of loss. Other scattered scratches and inclusions. Overall grime. 1/4" square flake to paint on tree in center of image.