Altson was a painter, decorative painter and etcher born in Middlesborough, North England, younger brother of Abbey Alston . He came to Australia in 1888. Having been awarded a scholarship at the age of 16, he studied at NGV Schools (Design 1894-98, Painting 1898-1902). He won prizes for painting and drawing in 1898 and 1899, and exhibited at the Art Gallery of New South Wales with fellow students in 1900. In 1902 he followed his brother in winning the NGV Travelling Scholarship for the painting Leisure Hours (now lost) and going to Paris. He studied at l’Ecole des Beaux Arts, Colarossi’s and the Humphery Academy under the surrealist Eugene Carrier Between 1907 and 1910, he painting in Florence, Italy.
By 1910 he had settled in London where he spent the rest of his life and where he died in 1965. He married Marguerite Le Coultre in 1917. By the 1950s, he used the name Daniel Michael Altson. Upon his death, Altson had no children, leaving his assets to the National Gallery of Victoria, the Montefiore Seniors Home in St Kilda, and Mr Samual M’Gready to grow a rose named for his friend, “The Pretty Bobby Lucas”.
Alston exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1925-1929, and the Paris Salon in 1909, 1927 and 1951. In 1934, he had a private exhibition in Holland Park, London. He also exhibited in the English provinces.
The National Gallery of Victoria holds the largest and seemingly only collection of his paintings, many of which were received as a bequest.
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- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1996
- Last updated:
- 2025
