Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell RSA 1883-1937

F. C. B. Cadell was the son of Francis Cadell, Surgeon, and was born in Edinburgh in 1883. He received his general education at The Edinburgh Academy and studied art at the old School at the Mound, the Academy’s Life School, session 1901-1902, and in Paris and Munich. From 1916 to 1919 he served in the Army, first as a Private in the 9th Royal Scots, and afterwards as Lieutenant in the 8th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. He was wounded twice, and was awarded the General Service and Victory Medals. Mr. Cadell’s painting was distinguished by its great facility. Landscape, still-life, interiors, street scenes and portraits were all subjects for his fluent brush. Many of the landscapes were painted in the Western Islands and these excellent interpretations of sea and rocks and sky, joyous in feeling and brilliant in colour, found a ready acceptance. The still- lifes and interiors were more obviously stylised and frequent use was made in them of strong contrasts of white and black and vermilion. He is represented in the Public Galleries of Rochdale, Paisley, Glasgow, Manchester and Venice. The Modern Arts Society has a portrait sketch, and in our Diploma Gallery his representative work is a figure subject “The Poet.” He was elected an Associate of the Academy in 1931 and full member in 1936. His election to the R.S.W. took place in 1935. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. With the late P. W. Adam, R.S.A., he was a founder of the Society of Eight, in 1912, in conjunction with Sir Patrick Ford, the lessee of the “ New Gallery,” Shandwick Place, Edinburgh. Mr. Cadell suffered from a painful illness for some time and died on the 6th December following an operation. He was unmarried.

RSA Obituary by George Pirie and David Foggie. Transcribed from the 1937 RSA Annual Report