Identity:

William Christian Symons was a decorative designer and painter of portraits, landscape and genre.

Life:

Symons trained at the Lambeth School of Art and from 1866 at the Royal Academy Schools. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Grosvenor Gallery and the New English Art Club, and soon became an admirer and faithful supporter of JW. He was also a member of the Society of British Artists, exhibiting with the Society from 1881 through JW's presidency of the Society from 1886-88. When JW was forced to resign in June 1888, Symons resigned with him. He organised the dinner held in JW's honour at the Criterion, London on 1 May 1889.

Bibliography:

Wood, Christopher, Victorian Painters 3rd ed., revised, 2 vols., Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1995; Dictionary of National Biography, 2nd Supplement, 1913.