M. Oliver Rae artist

Posted on 25/06/2023 by ronald972

People might recognise the artist #MOliverRae as an etcher/engraver, but few would know that this is an alias or pseudonym. Mabel Oliver (1868-1956) was born in Jesus Lane, Cambridge, and later studied at the Slade School for Art (1888-1890) in London. Although best known for her engravings ( a number of I have) today, she was a fine portrait artist in pastels and a watercolourist producing rural and coastal scenes. Her use of a pseudonym seems to stem from the disregard of female artists by dealers, and the public at large for many did indeed consider M Oliver Rae to be a male artist. After her marriage to Luther Parker, Mabel continued to use her ‘nom de plum’ for her engravings but signed her paintings and drawings Mabel Parker, M Parker or MP. She turned to watercolour painting later in her career producing evocative scenes from the Brecklands with their distinctive gnarled Scots pines.

Codson Hill (Mildenhall to Thetford Road) – watercolour by Mabel Parker (M Oliver Rae) @ 1930

This beautiful watercolour, which I acquired this past week, shows Codson Hill, which is found just off the Mildenhall to Thetford Road. A great use of colour and a fine perspective show this place as it truly was almost 100 years ago. A place I have driven by many times.

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Thomas Holland botanical artist

Posted on 16/06/2023 by ronald972

#ThomasHolland (1795-1865) came from a family of painters/designers for pottery/porcelain. He was born in Burselm, Staffordshire. Thomas and his brother James were watercolourists producing decorative botanical studies for #WilliamDavenport in Longport.

Apple Blossoms – watercolour by Thomas Holland @ mid 19th c

This small, superbly executed watercolour certainly shows the delicate brushwork, wonderful colour palette, and adroitness that this artist uses to portray a real-life image. Although Thomas has been overshadowed by his younger brother, James, this work is confirmation of his great talent. A beautiful image.

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Joseph Duncan abstract artist

Posted on 07/06/2023 by ronald972

This past week, I came across two abstract oils. Now, I am not always a fan of modern art. It has to convey something and not just be thrown together with little thought.

I admit to not knowing or recognising the artist #JosephDuncan. Duncan was born in London in 1920. He studied at the Slade School (1944-1949). He moved to France in 1951, where he began his career creating works for Air France and the French Pavillion at the Brussels Expo and the Canadian Expo in Montreal. He also exhibited in most major European cities, including Amsterdam, Milan, Florence, Venice, Brussels, Paris, London, and Cologne.

Heironymus Imperiale – oil by Joseph Duncan @ 1968

Duncan liked to use bold colours within abstract shapes. Using various techniques such as impressing the applied paint or dripping paint onto the canvas, bringing his works close to the area of artworks considered ‘graffiti’ or ‘brut’ art.

Ami personelle d’Ondine (personal friend of Ondine – the sea goddess) – oil by Joseph Duncan @ 1968

The two small paintings I acquired display Duncan’s abstract/impressionistic style along with his use of a wide colour palette.

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Finding Beauty

Posted on 23/04/2023 by ronald972

I pick up pieces because they say something to me. I find beauty in them and yet they most likely will have limited monetary value. This past week, I acquired three items, which I think are good pieces of art, contain beauty, and are done by little known artists, if at all.

Odin, bloodhound – charcoal drawing after Landseer @ 1875

A fine charcoal drawing of a bloodhound after #EdwinHenryLandseer. The dogs name was Odin. It is initialed lower right.

The second is a small oil painting of Salisbury Cathedral, which was created around 1880 and is signed on the verso ‘Arnold’. A piece in the footsteps of John Constable.

Salisbury Cathedral – oil painting by Arnold @ 1880

The final piece is actually two and were found on the inside the front and back of a bookcover. I believe they are examples of early wallpaper. In their own way, they are quite beautiful. The same pattern with varied colours giving a completely different feeling to each.

Inside of front and rear book binding – fragments of wallpaper
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Jean Baptiste Camille Corot artist

Posted on 06/04/2023 by ronald972

#JeanBaptisteCamilleCorot (1796-1875) was an artist who spanned two worlds. The first being the neo-classical tradition and then the emerging field of Impressionism. He was a landscape, portrait painter who also was a proficient etcher/engraver. He was admired by many of his peers. Artists like Monet, Degas, and Picasso were among his admirers.

From my collection, I have two pieces for us to look at. The first is an engraving, which I have not found another image of, and, since it has been cut to the image edge, I have no information as to the artist or publisher although it is signed Corot in the plate lower right. It is a very fine etching with hand colouring. A pastoral scene with Diana and nymphs bathing, perhaps? The Corot oil painting hangs in the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg.

Three bathers near a wooded point – engraving by/after Corot @ 1870
Detail of ‘Three bathers near a wooded point’ – engraving by/after Corot @ 1870

The second piece is a heliogravure by artist C. Fitzgerald which comes from around 1890 to 1910. It is an image entitled – Recollection of Mortefontaine ‘Paysage’.

Recollection of Mortefontaine, ‘Paysage’ – heliogravure by C. Fitzgerald @ 1890-1910
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Henry Scott Tuke artist

Posted on 26/03/2023 by ronald972

We travel to Cornwall to visit with artist #HenryScottTuke (1858-1929). Tuke was primarily an impressionist painter, both in oil and watercolour, as well as a photographer. He is best known for his paintings of nude boys and young men but there is little sexual tension in those representations and genitals were almost never displayed. Tuke trained at the Slade School of Art under the tutelage of Alphonse Legros and Sir Edward Poynter. He became a member of the #NewlynSchool. Tuke employed rash/rough brush strokes and a broad and vibrant colour palette. He loved to paint outdoors and was a master at the depiction of the effect of light on the objects it touched.

Tuke painted portraits, still lifes, landscapes and was also a fine marine painter of ships in full sail. Tuke had an interesting habit of putting different heads on the bodies he painted making it difficult to say who sat for what picture. Tuke was successful which allowed him to travel extensively but mainly to France, Italy and the West Indies.

Flowers in a Basket with Ribbons – watercolour initialled HST (Henry Scott Tuke?) date unknown

The above watercolour is initialled HST just beneath the base of the basket. I believe for Henry Scott Tuke. He was not known for still lifes but did create several of them. This one is created using the rough/free brush technique he was known for and the varied/fresh colour palette. A nice piece although somewhat atypical.

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Sybil Blunt artist

Posted on 19/03/2023 by ronald972

Today, we travel to Winchester to visit with artist #SybilBlunt (1880-1952). Few would have heard of her, but we can look back and admire her achievements. Sybil Blunt was a painter, a watercolourist, an engraver, and a draughtswoman. We most likely have never seen any of her works but we can see, possibly, her greatest and most admired work.

After the war, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes asked Sybil Blunt to design a commemorative work to celebrate the work done by women during the war. Every county in England and Wales was asked to stitch a section of the tapestry. Over 400 women were involved with the production of these pieces. As the 15 sections were finished; from across the country they were sent to Winchester to be assembled into a whole. This was completed in October 1952, some 9 months prior to Sybil Blunts’ passing. This epic and historically important work can now, still be seen at the #ImperialWarMuseum in London.

The Close, Winchester Cathedral – watercolour by Sybil Blunt @ 1932

I have one piece by Sybil Blunt in my collection. A fine view of Winchester Cathedral’s Close created in 1932. A beautiful tribute to a fine artist.

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Neil Cox artist

Posted on 12/03/2023 by ronald972

As with last week’s artist, we visit another painter of avian life. #NeilCox (1955- ) was born in London and loved to draw from his youth. He read law at university but turned to his first love to pursue a career as an avian/wildlife painter.

Great Tits – watercolour by Neil Cox

His formative years were influenced by artists such as #ArchibaldThorburn and #RobertBateman. Neil works in either oils or watercolours. From looking at his work, one would be surprised to learn that Neil is totally self-taught.

Blue Tits – watercolour by Neil Cox

I have two pieces by Neil Cox in my collection. Both are beautifully painted and display a pair of birds in each work. A wonderful combination of colour and exactness of execution produce a vivid and vibrant presentation of real life.

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Priscilla Barrett artist

Posted on 04/03/2023 by ronald972

Today, we look at a local artist whose speciality was the portrayal of mammals. #PriscillaBarrett (Prill)(1944-2021) was born in Cape Town. From her youth, she was a lover of the natural world and the animals that inhabit it. She graduated from Cape Town University, married, and in 1969, moved to Cambridge, England. Both she and her husband worked at Cambridge University’s sub-department of Animal Behaviour at Madingley. Here, her skill at illustration was nutured and matured. She started with illustrating colleagues’ papers and articles, but this quickly developed to the illustration of books.

Crested Servaline Genet – drawing/watercolour by Priscilla Barrett

Prill was the main artist for the Encyclopaedia of Mammals, the only artist for Harper Collins Guide to European Mammals and its companion European Mammals. Three huge endeavours and yet only 3 from a long list of works, which she illustrated. She truly was a master of illustration. Wonderfully combining accuracy in detail, palette, and expression to bring forth a beauty to rival reality.

From my collection comes the sumptuous portrayal of the Crested Genet.

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An unsigned drawing

Posted on 26/02/2023 by ronald972

This past week, I picked up a small drawing titled ‘The Happy Child’. It is done in pencil/graphite. I think the child portrayed is meant to be #Cupid. We can see the end of his bow showing from under his robe. He reclines leaning on one arm, while in his other hand is a doll with which he is playing. The idea of Loves’ playing with mankind might be what is being displayed here.

The Happy Child – graphite drawing by/after Louisa or Fanny Corbaux @ 1851

The drawing in an #Italianate style is rendered superbly, with excellent toning/shading. Being unsigned, I can not attribute it to any artist, but the paper informs me that it is certainly 19c if not 18c. The child appears to hold a ‘Punch’ doll from Punch and Judy. The earliest that these stories appeared in England was 1662. Punch is based on the 16th century Italian ‘commedia dell’arte’ Neapolitan character of Pulcinella – anglicised to #Punchinello.

After more research, I have found a lithograph of this image by reknowned artist #LouisaCorbaux (1808- 1852). This might mean that this drawing could be by either Louisa or her more famous sister #FannyCorbaux (1812-1883).

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