A look at a local artist, today. #JeanDrydenAlexander (1911 – 1994) was born at Priest Cottage, Shenfield, Essex. Her father (RGD Alexander) and mother (Effie Alexander) were well known watercolours. Through her parents circle of artist friends she met people such as HB Brabazon and Sir George Clausen. She and her family spent much of their time painting ‘en plein air’ across Essex and its’ coastline.
Jean was not only a painter but also a teacher. Teaching for 30 years at Brentwood County High School. During her lifetime, she travelled extensively and resided for 4 years in New Zealand. In 1974, she moved back to England and settled in Norfolk where she lived until her death.
The sketch appearing on the verso appears to be a study for the watercolour which appears on the recto. A very pleasant image to look at. Just enough definition is used and leaves an image which draws you into it to see closer.
Although the book is not in great shape. It is intact. It contains the an account of 102 painters lives and an added historical/chronological list of prominent painters for over 500 years. 
Although the histories and lives are interesting, it is the 102 engraved images of the artist’s that I find beautiful. Published in 1739, this book uses the original etched plates etched plates. Most of these were engraved around 1630, some even earlier.
I display only a few of the portraits of some of the better known artists which you might recognise. Wonderfully engraved by some very famous artists too. 
I don’t think I need to say much about the quality of the works. They are consistently fine and being 281 years old have stood the test of time. I hope you enjoy them as much as I.
In an earlier time, taking the back roads, one came across scenes like the this. Here, children amuse themselves as the farmer and his wife deal with the harsh realities of farming in such a rugged land. The beauty of such landscapes is little compensation if one cannot feed ones family. But here, I think we see a successful attempt at family and farm. 
Earlier times saw children sent outside to care for each other and often only came in for meals or when called. A hearty imagination and creativity were a requirement to avoid boredom. Life was not easy. It was often a struggle – against the land, the weather and things beyond ones control but struggle on they did. 
Nowadays, we look on scenes like these and see an idyllic life but I think the reality was very different. Here on the back roads there is beauty to be found but often that is just the glossy cover to a deep and epic struggle to survive. A fight to provide more for your children. A better life. One in which they might have more time to revel in the beauty that surrounds them. 
Even today, we strive to provide our children with a better life – with more than we had when growing up. That is not a bad thing but just maybe we also need to stop, take a deep breath, and look around us to see the beauty in the place where we are. When I was younger, I was told that being around young children would keep me young. I am a grandfather and I can tell you that that is not true. I know I am getting older – my body reminds me often enough – but the thing that my granddaughter gives to me is not stamina or youth but she has reignited in me the joy, the wonder and awe in almost anything and everything which she sees so easily and I over time had become oblivious to. There is joy and beauty to be found even in the struggles of life.
The appreciation of his work grew leading to an invitation (1946) via Xu Beihong to join the faculty at the Beijing National Art College. There he was mentored by Qi Baishi and Huang Binhong. Neither traditionalist nor reformist, Li is rather a painter remembered as a pioneer. A man who led the way in combining traditional and modern techniques into a new expression. The watercolour in my collection is signed ‘Keran’ and has one artist seal. It shows a young herdsman riding a water buffalo with another nearby. It displays his wonderful technique of shading using ink and wash.
I have three pen and ink drawings by Gordon Frederick Browne in my collection. He signed his work GB. With such a vast output, I have yet to find to which story these drawings refer but I will keep looking.
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