Walter Goodman - Later Years

Later Years

Around 1890 Goodman painted a portrait of Brighton resident The Countess of Munster and this was exhibited in his Brighton Studio in 1891 together with The Printseller's Window and the Wilkie Collins portrait. He also exhibited a replica of his Chinese Ambassador portrait here the same year.

Also in 1891, Goodman tried to persuade The Garrick Club to purchase his portraits of Wilkie Collins and Mrs. Alfred Mellon, pledging half the proceeds to a fund to help relieve the financial difficulties of Robert Reece, who was severely ill. Presumably he failed in this effort as the whereabouts of these two paintings are unknown today.

Around probably 1898 Goodman was commissioned to travel to Poděbrady castle in Bohemia to paint the portrait of Prince Hohenlohe and that of his daughter Elisabeth. According to reports, both works were met with much success. During this trip, while staying at a hotel in Bad Kreuznach, he organized a firework display in honor of The Queen's birthday. He was assisted in this task by his son, Russell (godson of Henry Russell).

In 1901 Goodman authored a two-part article in the Magazine of Art entitled "Artists Studios: As They Were and As They Are." In the piece Goodman makes it clear that he was on familiar terms (at least enough so as to have been able to visit a number of their studios first hand) with many of the great painters of the Victorian Age, six of whom are portrayed in The Printseller's Window.

The Jewish Chronicle commissioned Goodman to draw a study of his mother, Julia Goodman on the occasion of her 90th birthday. It appeared in the 7 June 1902 edition of that publication, and in Booklover's Magazine in February of the following year.

In 1906 Goodman exhibited a portrait of his son, Keeley, at the Institute of Oil Painters in London. At the Exhibition of Jewish Art and Antiquities at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, London in late 1906 he exhibited three works — The Late Sampson Lucas, Mrs Keeley in her 83rd year, and The Cuban Mulatto Girl.

From 1906 Goodman suffered from severe ill health, and was unable to continue painting. By 1908 he had fallen on hard times and in desperation wrote to the Jewish Chronicle asking for donations and financial assistance, giving his wife's Henfield address — even though by this time he had long returned to London and was being cared for by his three eldest sons at his final address in Priory Park Road, Willesden, London. However, in December the same year The Strand Magazine provided some welcome financial assistance by publishing his essay Drapery Figures.

Walter Goodman died from cancer on 20 August 1912, at a nursing home in West Hampstead. His funeral was held on 24 August and he is buried in Hampstead Cemetery, North London. A small obituary appeared in the 30 August 1912 edition of The Jewish Chronicle and a more extensive obituary appeared in an unidentified newspaper, listing his notable achievements. These are the last known references to Walter Goodman in the public record.