A Trip to North Wales

Posted on 21/04/2024 by ronald972

A couple of weeks back, I acquired a watercolour painting. It is unsigned, without title and date. So, other than the image itself , there is no easy information available to me. I at first thought it might be a view of Devils Bridge in Switzerland, but after more research and study, I have decided that this is a British artists painting of a scene in the North of Wales.

We travel to #PontAberglaslyn, to one of the most famous beauty spots on the edge of #Snowdonia. Pont Aberglaslyn is a stone arch bridge that spans the Afon Glaslyn. The closest towns are Beddgelert and Nantmor. It was one of the most visited beauty spots in #NorthWales and was a favourite for numerous artists and their mediums.

Pont Aberglaslyn Bridge, Snowdonia, North Wales  – watercolour unsigned @ 1830-1870

As you can appreciate, this is a fine landscape done with wonderful shading and choice of colours. I am fairly confident that I have chosen the right place, and I have given a wide time span for its creation. I may not be able to identify the artist who painted this scene but he surely has produced a very fine work.

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The Town of Marlow

Posted on 14/04/2024 by ronald972

Marlow sits beside the River Thames in Buckinghamshire.  It grew up due to there being a crossing of the Thames on the road from Reading to High Wycombe. Marlow is a favourite place for rowers to hone their skills. Upstream lies Temple Lock and downstream is Marlow Lock. Beside Marlow Lock stood #MarlowMills, which ground grain and produced paper using rags which came from London.

Marlow lock, All Saints Church and Mill – watercolour by unknown @ 1875

The watercolour portrays Marlow in about 1860. In the distance, we see All Saints Church with Marlow Lock in front and to the right stands Marlow Mills. The piece is signed by the signature lies mostly beneath the matte. A nice use of colours along with a good architectural eye portray Marlow as a beautiful and calm place o to live.

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The Beauty of Drawings

Posted on 24/03/2024 by ronald972

I love acquiring drawings. They are often undervalued but can be absolutely beautiful. Drawings, whether in pencil, chalk, or ink, are mainly small in their overall size since they often come from artist’s sketch books. Let’s look at four drawings recently added to my collection.

Italian greyhounds at play – unknown artist

The above drawing is 2 3/8″ x 5″ (61mm x  127mm). Exquisitely drawn with muscles rippling displaying these two at their cavorting best.

The Red Lion Inn – unknown artist

Here, we have a rural scene displaying the ‘Lion Inn’ (10 3/4″ x 6 1/2″ or 272mm x 164mm) Created in pencil with brown wash to add depth and shadow. I would date this around 1850-1880.

Portrait of a Man (possibly Carel Weight)

An unsigned portrait of a young man (9″ x 7 1/2″ or 220mmx 190mm). I acquired this at the same time as the engravings by William Arthur Narbeth, so it might be by his hand. I can not say for certain.

Young man reading a missive – signed & dated

To finish, another portrait of a gentleman who is reading a letter (11″ x 8 1/2″ or 275mm x 218mm) . This is signed with what appears to read RJ Hamilton  and dated 1844. Created in pencil/graphite with red and white highlighting.

All four are excellent drawings. I often find that the natural toning of the paper actually enhances the drawings and brings to them an added depth.

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A Life Too Short

Posted on 17/03/2024 by ronald972

The artist we consider, today, might rightly be called both English and French. #RichardParkesBonington was born near Nottingham in a town called Arnold. He worked watercolours and oils and was a very fine illustrator. He learned his watercolour technique from his father and displayed his works as early as the age of eleven. Bonington moved with his family to France, where he studied under Francois, Francia, Antoin-Jean, and Bsron Gros. He became a close friend of Eugene Delacroix. He travelled around France, Italy, and England, painting in oil and watercolours. He produced lithographs and numerous sketches of his tours. Delacroix died at the age of 25, becoming after his death, one of the most influential and respected British artists of his time. His style was influenced by the old masters but presented thru a new modern interpretation.

Chapel Interior – pencil drawing by Richard Parkes Bonington

I have a small drawing by Bonington in my collection. A scene displaying the interior of a church crowded with onlookers. I am not sure exactly what scene they are watching occur.

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Clare Newbolt artist

Posted on 10/03/2024 by ronald972

#ClareNewbolt was born in London in 1956. Her studies were carried out at the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts. She continued her studies with a year in Italy, followed by two years in the USA.

Clare is an educator teaching drawing and painting to most ages. Her career has seen her illustrate cookbooks and children’s books, work and exhibit textiles, and exhibited drawings in London and the USA. Clare now lives in Cambridge, where she continues to paint and create art.

Portrait of the artist’s grandmother after Vuillard- pastel by Clare Newbolt

Here, we have a copy of a painting by Vuillard of his grandmother created by Clare. It is done in pastels. It is signed and titled on the verso. A nice piece and fine tribute to a very fine artist, Vuillard.

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The artistry of Arthur Boyd Houghton

Posted on 04/03/2024 by ronald972

Recently, I acquired an oil painting from a charity shop. It has a small amount of damage which I will get repaired, so it was quite reasonably priced. As far as I have determined, the signature on the painting reads ArthurHoughton but I will let you argue that if you, my readers, with a better interpretation.

Signature (which may read Arthur Houghton)

#ArthurBoydHoughton (1836-1875) was a British painter working in oils and watercolours. He was also a fine illustrator and drew for The Graphic and Harpers Weekly magazines. Houghton also illustrated a number of books, including The Arabian Nights and Don Quixote. Houghton was well respected during his life. He also travelled extensively, including the USA and Russia. He is, possibly, bedt known for his wood engravings, but his paintings are very well executed. They often focused on his close family. He achieved all this, even with the loss of an eye from a childhood accident.

Passing Storm – oil by/? Arthur Boyd Houghton

I have titled this piece ‘Passing Storm’ for the person walking with their umbrella seen in the distance. The damage can be seen on the left-hand side. Quite a nice piece and a good size as a feature item on my wall (495mm x 595) (19 1/2″ x 23 1/3″).

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Engravings not done by hand

Posted on 28/01/2024 by ronald972

It might seem odd, but not all engravings are done by hand. There is some dispute as to who first developed the machine. Some say it was an American by the name of #ChristianGobrecht (1785-1844), but others claim it was developed in France by #Achille Collas (1795-1859). This type of engraving is called an anaglyptograph and is created via mechanical means from 3D sculptures such as coins, medallions, plagues, etc. Here in England , the man best known for this type of engraving was #JohnBate. Little is known of John Bate, except that he acquired an anaglyptograph machine, redesigned it, and gained a British patent for it as if it was his own creation.

The Great Seal of England – anaglyptograph

The beauty of this type of engraving is the superb accuracy of the image itself. In my collection, I have the engraving of ‘The Great Seal of England’ by #AlfredRobertFreebairn using one of John Bate’s machines.

Victoria on her throne – recto
Victoria on her Mount – verso

As one looks at the precision of the lines in spacing, one comes to a realisation that a machine travelling over an object might damage the object, thus harming its value. Often, copies of rare or important items were created, and those copies were then used in the anaglyptograph machine.

Close-up of anaglyptograph
Close-up of anaglyptograph
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William Arthur Narbeth engraver

Posted on 18/01/2024 by ronald972

This chapter focuses on a little known artist by the name of #WilliamArthurNarbeth. Narbeth studied at Goldsmith College and was respected as a very talented etcher (finalist in the Prix de Rome), but this talent entered the art world close to the end of the etching/engraving revival. Because of this, there has never been a complete catalogue of his works. This in no way diminishes the talent and sublime technique which Narbeth displayed.

The Binding of Samson @ 1919
Samson’s Redemption @ 1917

A great many of Narbeth’s works were biblical in nature, as seen in the two above prints. Both are finely worked pieces.

But Narbeth ventured into landscape and portraiture also where he showcased his architectural drawing skills and his life drawing talents.

Strasburg – undated
Lady in a hat @ 1916
Gentleman’s portrait

I think I can safely say that here is an artist who deserves to be better known for his great talent. He was just born at a time when his talent would be overshadowed by the changing art scene.

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Aeneis engravings

Posted on 21/10/2023 by ronald972

From the folder I bought come two engravings which were done to illustrate Virgil’s ‘Aeneis’. Publius Virgilius Maro is the full name of the person we know as Virgil. The book was published by #PierreDidot in 1798 and contained Aeneis, Bucolica, and Georgica. The engravings were done by #RaphaelUrbainMassard (1774-1843) and #JacqueLouisCopia (1764-1799). The drawings from which these two engravers worked were done by #FrancoisGerrard and #Anne-LouisGirodetdeRoussy.

Aeneis’ Sacrifice – engraving by Massard after Girodet
O Miserable Child, if thou canst destroy the terrible things , you will be Marcello – engraving from Aeneis by Copia after Gerrard

There were 23 engravings to the original publication. These two are fine examples of the engravings that illustrate the volume throughout.

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Nyon Porcelain

Posted on 08/10/2023 by ronald972

Also from the portfolio comes a link to a porcelain maker. The factory at #Nyon was founded in 1781 and produced pieces to 1813. An odd location to start a porcelain factory since all raw materials would have to be imported. #JacqueDortu was the founder/director along with #FerdinandMuller.

Border for Nyon service made of bluets

The drawing above displays a proposed design for a table service using bluets and various border styles. There were over 70 different kinds of flower designs, 17 garland designs, and numerous styles of border designs. The centres of the plates and bowls were often decorated with landscapes, human interactions, oriental designs, and figures.

Border de bluets with optional borders- Nyon
Service de bluets with borders – Nyon

Although the factory ran for only 30 years, it produced such high quality pieces that they adorned the tables of the well off in Switzerland and Russia, the Queen of Naples, the Queen of Spain, and Marie Antoinette of France.

Artist mark on sheet

Above is the artist monogram with bluet symbol. The designs are admired for their almost perfect composition and timelessness of image. A different field in the arts, yet still such beauty can be produced.

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