Isaac Taylor engraver

Posted on 26/01/2025 by ronald972

I recently added a book published in 1809 to my collection. To be fair, the book is in rough shape. The front and rear covers are separated from the spine, the pages are aged and discoloured, but within these pages are engravings by #IsaacTaylor (1759-1829). The book is called #TheLifeofChrist. Taylor was born in London. His father was also named Isaac Taylor (1730-1807), and son followed father into the engraving trade. Taylor (the younger) married and moved to Lavenham in Suffolk. Here he became z well known itinerant preavher. Life as an engraver was not easy, and when Isaac received a call to pastor an independent church, he moved to Colchester, and finally to Ongar in Essex to pastor another nonconformist church, where he resided until his death.

The Flight into Egypt – engraving by Isaac Taylor @ 1807
The temptation of Christ – engraving by Isaac Taylor @ 1807

I find these works fascinating and beautiful, wonderfully expressive. To me, there is just something extraordinary in these sublimely engraved black and white images. Age makes them more accessible and more expressive. Look upon the agony in the woman’s face as Christ is crucified, the anger in the body of the soldier as he drives the nail into Christ’s feet. I look at the edges of the pages themselves and see they have been touched hundreds maybe thousands of times. This book has been loved. Maybe that is why I love the imperfect. For I have seen pristine antique engravings, clean and untarnished as the day they were printed but these usually fail to move me for they in all their perfection have not been cherished, looked upon day after day, and loved. Even in some mysterious way affecting people’s lives.

The Crucifixion – engraving by Isaac Taylor  @ 1808
Angels carrying Lazarus to heaven – engraving by Isaac Taylor @ 1808
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Two Oddities

Posted on 11/01/2025 by ronald972

I picked up two items recently, which are outside of my usual pervue. They are both created by artists from very different fields. The first we will look at is a hand carved #decoy of a wood pigeon from the late 19th to early 20th century. It comes with a little damage and signs of woodworm but is still a fine example of this genre.

The #pigeon shows its’ original paint and unlike later decoys it has naile ss eyes and not glass eye beads. There is a pyramid shaped hole in the bottom indicating that in its original form, it might have been a rocking pigeon, but it has lost the mechanism.

The second piece was thrown in 1915 at the #BraunstonPottery in Devon. The pottery opened in 1912 and ran until 1971. I bought this piece because my wife loves blue, and this small vase is cobalt blue.

This piece also has a small amount of damage but is still a lovely example of the work that Braunton was creating even during wartime.

Hope you enjoyed the pair of unordinary pieces, for me, but these works were created by artists for everyday use.

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Two Landscapes

Posted on 28/12/2024 by ronald972

Today, we look at two landscapes, one oil and one watercolour. The oil is a view overlooking the parklands at Hassobury, Farnham, Bishop Stortford. Hassobury is a Victorian Gothic mansion, originally built for the Gosling family, was sold and converted into a private school and has now been redone into a residence. The parklands is delightful and the drive to the mansion consists of paddocks and meadows.

Parklands, Hassobury – oil by I. S. Duncan
Hassobury Parkland

The watercolour is a scene looking across rolling hills and farmland. In the fore is a field being turned by a pair of shire horses pulling a plough. It is simplistic in many ways and yet the portrayal of the horses is superb. This unknown artist has, I think, managed to capture something very beautiful.

Working the Land – unknown artist
the shire horses

Both of these landscapes capture the peace and serenity of the countryside, the beauty of nature and sunshine with green fields, blue skies, and farm animals. As one gazes on these works it’s easy to imagine oneself being there and walking the countryside in the sunshine and fresh air.

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Charles Edward Hannaford artist

Posted on 16/12/2024 by ronald972

Some weeks back, I visited a charity shop. They at times expose frames and pictures to ghd dldmdnts due to their lack of sale value. I looked thru these pieces and did not find any that I might purchase. One of those pieces was a poster that had been framed. I went to look elsewhere in the charity but eventually came back, finding that someone had opened the frame and taken the poster. This action exposed the piece that I then picked up.

The exposed piece was a watercolour landscape. It bore a title and signature in the lower left of the piece. I thought it a good piece.

The Pass of Glencoe, Scotland – watercolour by Charles Edward Hannaford (1863-1955)

A quite beautiful image of ‘The Pass of Glencoe, Scotland’ by #CharlesEdwardHannaford (1863-1955). Hannaford was born in Liverpool and studied art in London and Paris. He was educated as an engineer/architect, and his work brought him to the notice of artists William Cook and Stanhope Forbes. He was also well thought of and collected by the Royal family. His art brought him to reside in Plymouth, Cornwall, London, and finally moving to Norfolk settling in the town of Thorpe. A very good piece even after being exposed to the elements.

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A Bit of Local History

Posted on 07/12/2024 by ronald972

I have lived in the city of Ely since moving to England and am always pleased to find pieces of art of local interest. In this case, it is of interest in regards to the place portrayed as well as the creating artist. The small lithograph shows #ElyCemetary as it was shortly after it opened in 1855. I can date this print to no later than 1870 since the company that pressed the stone moved from the address shown in 1870. The cemetary, itself, was divided into two sections – Anglican and Nonconformist.

Ely Cemetary  – lithograph by Henry Baines @ 1855-70

The lithograph was done by #HenryBaines (1823-1894). Henry Baines is the younger brother to the more famous #ThomasBaines. Henry studied in London and Europe, then returning home to establish his own art academy. Henry’s works comprised of East Anglian landscapes and coastal views featuring sailing ships, fishing boats, and views of King’s Lynn. The images of his hometown are historically important since they show real life in the city in the 19th century.

A nice piece of local history on two aspects.

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Isabella Hedley, part two

Posted on 30/11/2024 by ronald972

We return to Isabella Hedley and her drawings. Once again, we see quite a competent artist producing good quality works.

Cottage at Hastings – drawing by Isabella Hedley after Paul Sandby Munn @ 1837

A number of these drawings come from the drawing course, which was published by SamuelProut.

Untitled – drawing by Isabella Hedley @ 1837
Fisherman’s Hut, Isle of Wight – drawing by Isabella Hedley @ 1837
Near Plymouth – drawing by Isabella Hedley after Samuel Prout @ 1837

We also see two drawings from European sites.

At Wurtzburg – drawing by Isabella Hedley after Samuel Prout @ 1837
St Margaret’s Chapel, Glastonbury  – drawing by Isabella Hedley after Samuel Prout @ 1837

Also, in this set of drawings from 1837, there are two landscape scenes focusing on trees. These two images may be Isabella’s own works for her tutor/drawing class since I have been unable to find images of them.

Untitled – drawing by Isabella Hedley @ 1837
Fir Tree near Sir William Long’s house, Kempston, Bedfordshire  – drawing by Isabella Hedley @ 1837

Again, all of these drawings show a fine artistic eye and a very fine technique.

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Isabella Hedley artist

Posted on 20/10/2024 by ronald972

A few weeks back, I came across a set of drawings by artist #IsabellaHedley. The drawings we look at this week were created in 1836. We will look at another set next chapter, which were drawn in 1837. I have found little information about Isabella Hedley.

Near Caerphilly, South Wales
– after Samuel Prout?
Pennycross – after Samuel Prout

The drawings may be from Isabella’s tutoring, for most of them are images created by #SamuelProut for ‘Rudiments of Landscape in Progressive Studies. Drawn, and Etched in Imitation of Chalk’- collection of soft ground etchings published by Rudolph Ackermann c.1813. The pieces display a good hand and fine eye for copying.

Cottage Exterior – after Samuel Prout
At Tintagel – after Samuel Prout

The works are done in graphite and are of a rural landscape scenes from England and Wales.

Priory House, Bedford – after Samuel Prout?
Old buildings near Exhall, Warwickshire – after Samuel Prout
Chester – after Samuel Prout?

Isabella Hedley, whomever she may have  been, was a fine artist. Hopefully, she will be remembered as such.

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The Beauty of Drawings II

Posted on 14/10/2024 by ronald972

It is always a joy to come across drawings, especially when created by talented artists. The drawing we consider in this chapter is by an unknown artist. After studying it, I have come to the conclusion that it was created in the first half of the 1800’s.

Portrait of an unknown man by an  unknown hand

A portrait of an unknown gentleman done in three colours of chalk.The costume may mean that it might be from the late 1700’s. The paper has darkened over time, and the white chalk has brightened over those same years. An expert hand has created this image. Did it become an oil painting for some famous or wealthy patron? Is it of a famous or wealthy patron? All I can say is that it is beautifully rendered.

close-up of an unknown gentleman
Portrait of an unknown gentleman by an unknown hand
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Walter Graham Grieve artist

Posted on 04/10/2024 by ronald972

This week, I came across a set of three drawings, set together in one frame. Done by the same artist as illustrations to a children’s book. I do not know if the book was ever published. The artist is #WalterGrahamGrieve (1872-1937), who was born in Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland. His artistic talent was likely identified early on at his studies at St George’s Day School in Edinburgh. His later art studies were through the Royal Institution on the Mound and the Royal Scottish Academy Life School. Grieve began his career as a lithograph but transitioned to design and book illustration, which he continued to do most of his life.  Grieve was highly regarded as a painter in watercolour as well as oils.

Pied Piper of Hamelin – set of 3 illustrations by Walter Graham Grieve

The three illustrations are scenes from #ThePiedPiperofHamelin. I do not know for whom this set was designed or whether they were eventually published, but they display a fine artistic eye. My favourite parts from the images are the faces of the townsmen. Wonderfully expressive. The illustrations are executed in graphite, black ink, grey washes, and white body colour. They are all signed and I think come from Grieve’s early artistic life around 1900. Each image is 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ (165mm x 165mm). A wonderful set.

Before the townsmen – illustration by Walter Graham Grieve
Leading the rats away – illustration by Walter Graham Grieve
Stealing the children – illustration
by Walter Graham Grieve
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Morris Meredith Williams  artist

Posted on 29/09/2024 by ronald972

This week, saw me acquire a painting more for the image it displayed than the artist who had created it. To be honest, his was a name I did not recognise. The image is a classic image and one of my favourite views of the great ‘Ship of the Fens’ – Ely Cathedral.

Ely Cathedral from the river @ 1910?

The Cathedral appears in silhouette with reflection in the river. It is done in an impressionistic style using broad brush strokes and splashs of colour. The more I look at this painting, the more impressed I am with the technique and execution.

#MorrisMeredithWilliams (1881-1973)was an artist who painted, worked in stained glass, and as an illustrator. He is best known for the works he created with his wife, #GertrudeAliceMeredithWilliams. Morris studied at the Slade School of Fine Art as well as in Italy and France. He served in the army in WWI, and many pieces were created based on his time at the front during the war. His drawings of naval and military figures of the WWI became the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle. The frieze was modelled by his wife, Gertrude.

A beautiful piece to add to my collection of Ely art.

Ely Cathedral and reflection – by Morris Meredith Williams
Section of ‘Ely Cathedral from the river’ – by Morris Meredith Williams
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