Walter Kelvington Gold (c. 1847 – 16 February 1895), generally referred to as W. K. Gold, of

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

, was a painter remembered for his brief but effective period as secretary of the

South Australian Society of Arts The South Australian Society of Arts was a society for artists in South Australia, later with a royal warrant renamed The Royal South Australian Society of Arts in 1935. History A meeting of persons interested in the formation of a society for the ...

, Adelaide's premier art society.

History

Gold was a son of

Charles Emilius Gold Lieutenant General Charles Emilius Gold (6 January 1809 – 29 July 1871) was an English officer of the 65th Regiment, British Army, and artist of historic importance but limited ability. He was born at Woolwich Common, Kent, England, on 6 ...

and Eleanor Felicia Askin Geddes. His father, Charles, was an officer of the 65th Regiment who'd served in the

First Taranaki War The First Taranaki War (also known as the North Taranaki War) was an armed conflict over land ownership and sovereignty that took place between Māori people, Māori and the New Zealand government in the Taranaki district of New Zealand's North ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, as well as an artist of limited ability. He was employed by the South Australian Government Survey Department from 1876 to 1895 and was a member of the Adelaide Art Circle from 1890 to its end in 1892, then hon. secretary of the

from 1892 ("its resuscitation", for which he has been largely credited) to shortly before his death in 1895. In both his secretarial duties and artwork he was described as perceptive, quick, meticulous, painstaking and having an excellent memory for details. In personal dealings he was courteous and a good friend. His remains were buried at the

West Terrace Cemetery The West Terrace Cemetery is South Australia's oldest cemetery, first appearing on Colonel William Light's 1837 plan of Adelaide. The site is located in Park 23 of the Adelaide Park Lands just south-west of the Adelaide city centre, between ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gold, Walter 1840s births 1895 deaths 19th-century Australian painters