William Kennedy (1859-1918)

William Kennedy (1859-1918) was a well travelled Scottish painter from the Glasgow School and a prominent member of the Glasgow Boys. Kennedy was born in Glasgow but moved to Paisley to live with his brother when orphaned at an early age. He attended the Paisley School of Art where he won a prize in 1875 and probably went on to attend the Glasgow School of Art as well. 1880-1885 he moved to Paris, where he attended the Académie Julian and studied with artists such as Jules Bastien-Lepage, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, Raphaël Collin, Gustave-Claude-Etienne Courtois, and Tony Robert-Fleury. 1885-1898 he established a studio in Stirling. He first exhibited in London in1886. In 1883 his painting of Millet's home in Barbizon was exhibited as the RSA. Kennedy became a prominent member of a group of artists known as the Glasgow Boys. In 1887 he was elected president of the society formed by the group's members. He moved to Berkshire in the 1890s and to Tangier in 1912, for health reasons.
 

Exhibited Royal Academy 1, Royal Scottish Academy 18, Royal Society of Watercolour painters 2, Glasgow Institute 74, Aberdean Artist Society 2, Liverpool 11. His work is represented in numerous art galleries including Glasgow.