Silva, William- Bridge

Silva, William Posey (1859-1948) Painter.

Born in Savannah, GA on Oct 23 1859. Silva was educated at the Catham Academy and studied engineering briefly at the University of Virginia. Upon the death of his father, he inherited a successful china and hardward business in Chattanooga. For 30 years he was a prosperus merchant and was nearly 50 years old when he began his art career. In 1907 he retired from the business and sailed to Paris to study at Academie Julian under Laurens and Royers, and with Chauncey Ryder. His first solo exhibition was held in Paris in 1909 at the Georges Petit Gallery; recognition came quickly and other exhibitions followed in Europe. After returning to the US in 1910, he had several exhibitions throughout the South. Silver had studied in Washington DC and Chatanooga, TN until 1913 when he settled in Carmel Ca. There he built a studio in the sand dunes off Carmelia Street and for 35 years was an important figure in the local art scene and produced many prize winning landscapes. An impressionist who was influenced by the works of Monet and Manet, he worked outdoors to capture bright,fleeting scenes of nature in broad, colorful swatches of paint. Silva died on Feb 10, 1948. Member: Calif Art Club; Society of Washington Artists; Mississippi AA; Paris American AA; So. States Art League Dim: 6" x 8"