HALE, W. Matthew, RWS, RWA.

Elected a member in 1906 by invitation. As he was then sixty-nine years old, his activity in the Studio was strictly limited. He did, however, make a contribution to the Bongie Portfolio, a beautiful watercolour entitled “Solitude”. Unfortunately, this is the only example of his work that we possess. Like a good many of the artists of the day, he sported a beard and, as he was the son of a clergyman, we can assume that he was a kindly nature. His father was the Rev. William Hale of Claverton, Bath. He was a full Member of the R. W. S. and the R.W.A. and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1912. Prior to his taking up Art as a profession, he had attended Rugby School and then graduated to Balliol College where he obtained the degree of M. A. Two of his pictures, namely, “Greek Theatre, Syracuse” and “Mediterranean Sunset” which were in the Savages Exhibition, were purchased for presentation to the Municipal Art Gallery. One debt the Savages and all art lovers owe to this Member is that he recognised the natural genius of Bartram Hiles and coached him and encouraged him to persevere in his early struggle. In 1932 he presented the Savages with his picture entitled “The Cherry Orchard”. In March 1929, he died at his home at “Claverham”, Stoke Bishop, aged ninety-two. (Cecil Broome)