Born Liverpool, England 1846, died Cape Town, 1921. Morland was descended from a family of British artists that includes the famous George Morland (1763 - 1804). He came to SA with much experience of art societies, and this was to serve him well. Primarily a water colourist, he was elected to the Liverpool Academy and the Liverpool Watercolour Society. He was also the first President of the Liverpool Sketch Club. In 1880 he achieved the distinction of having one of his pictures hung "on the line" at the RA in London. In 1888 he came to SA to give painting instruction at various Cape secondary school; Aside from teaching, he examined for the SADC, and met Gwelo Goodman (qv.), for whom he became an important mentor. He was founder of SASA in 1897, and was elected unanimously as its first President. He was similarly re-elected in 1902. In 1903, it was regretfully announced that he had decided to return to England. He settled in Kent, but finding the climate there adverse, decided to return to SA.In 1905 he was given a celebratory return dinner by SASA, then under the Presidency of George Crosland Robinson (qv.). His photograph was published in The Cape Argus Weekly Edition on 26 December 1906 in supplement on Famous SA Artists with a caption describing him as " the doyen of SA Artists". For personal reasons he resigned from SASA in 1910. Morland is little known today. His vision of the SA landscape so convincingly within the aesthetic of the English landscape tradition that he tends to be under-appreciated. His knowledge of painting and his critical skills were transmitted to his eager students. This was especially so in the case of Gwelo Goodman, whom Morland helped financially in his studies. Morland's large oil, A Garden of Promise (1903), view looking from Groot Constantia towards False Bay, was eventual] purchased for the SA Art Gallery (SANG). He is also represented in number of other galleries in Britain and SA. His enduring legacy was his founding of SASA. His early example in so capably organising the earliest premier art events in SA should also not be underestimated.
Exhibitor on SASA-related exhibitions c.1898 - 1950: 1898: 2nd Annual Exh. OfSASi Banq.Rm., Good Hope Hall, 30 Jut. 1902: SASA 1st Annual Exh., in ass. with SADC, Di Had, Darling St., 9 Dec. 1903: SASA 2nd Annual Exh., in ass. with SADC, Drill Ha Darling St., 1 Dec., in both SADC and SADC sections. 1904: SASA Exh. of Pictures, Q Council Chambers, Greenmarket Sq. 1906; SASA Annual Exh., Society's Rooms, 42 BuigS 14 Nov. 1910: 3rd Annual Exh. of the SAFAA, combined with SASA and SADC, DriBHt Darling St., fm. 2 Nov. 1917: SASA Art Exh., MH, City Hall, Darling St., 7 Feb. 19l! SASA Art Exh., MH, City Hall, Darling St., 6 Feb. 1920: SASA Annual Exh., RH, 0 Hall, Darling St., 23 Jan. 1920: SASA Winter Exh., (venue not slated) I7Sep.