Arthur Batt (1846-1911)

Portrait of Three Donkeys in a Landscape

This charming British Victorian donkey oil painting is by noted New Forest animal artist Arthur Batt. It was painted in 1894 and the setting will be around Lyndhurst in the New Forest where Batt lived and worked. The composition is of the heads of three donkeys as they feed on a gorse bush. It is entitled Old Friends and they do indeed look very relaxed with each other. There is a typical New Forest landscape beyond - a stretch of flat scrubland with more gorse and heather and white cattle grazing in the distance with the hazy New Forest trees beyond, all beneath a blue summers sky. The Donkeys, two light with a darker one in the middle, are beautifully portrayed with great detail and superb brushwork perfectly capturing their features. The gorse bush is a vivid green in the foreground and just coming into bloom. Batt clearly loved animals and one can just imagine the pleasure he got in wandering around the New Forest and painting these beautiful creatures in their natural setting. This is a lovely British Victorian animal oil painting and a great example of Batt's work.

Signed and dated (18) 94 lower right.

Provenance Frost and Reed label verso with title: Old friends - Three Donkeys Feeding on Gorse bush. 

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Walter Ernest Webster (1878-1959)

Portrait of a British Army Major General in Full Uniform

This superb British Impressionist Edwardian military portrait oil painting is by noted artist Walter Ernest Webster. Painted circa 1910 it is a seated generous half length portrait, semi profile, of a Major General in the British Army in full ceremonial uniform against a darker background. In one hand he holds his hat and in the other his white gloves and sword handle. His red uniform is decorated with numerous medals on the left and gold brocades hang down on the right. The red coat was phased out for practical reasons in favour of khaki in the second Boer war (1899-1902) but remains part of ceremonial uniforms for certain regiments and occasions. The Major carries himself with great dignity and his facial features are sympathetically portrayed. The brushwork and details are superb. This is a fantastic military portrait and an excellent example of Webster’s work.

Signed lower right.

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Walter Ernest Webster - Portrait of a British Army Major General in Full Uniform oil painting - Richard Taylor Fine Art

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James N Lee (active 1873-1911)

Portrait of a Girl with Breakfast Tray

This charming British Victorian portrait oil painting is by exhibited artist James N Lee. Painted circa 1875 it is a three-quarter length portrait of a young girl dressed in red with white lace neck and cuffs and a red hairband with bow holding back her long dark hair. She is semi profile but turning to look at the artist/viewer, rich drapes behind her. In her hands she is holding a breakfast tray, complete with an egg in a shiny silver egg cup. Who is she taking breakfast to? Is it Mother's Day? Is someone unwell? She is certainly not dressed as a maid. There is superb detail in the different textures - shiny egg cup, China cup, the draping tray cloth and lace of her dress - all quite beautiful and showing off the artist's skill. The brushwork is also superb and the colours vibrant. This is a lovely British Victorian domesticated scene, very pleasing to the eye and an excellent example of Lee's work.

Signed lower right.

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Bertram Priestman (1868-1951)

Evening in Wharfedale 1917

This simply stunning British Impressionist landscape oil painting is by much respected artist Bertram Priestman. Painted in 1917, the composition is cattle watering in a river in the foreground at Wharfedale. The river's course is just visible through the trees at the base of a hill with the sun beginning to set beyond, drenching the sky and scene in the most beautiful light, reflected in the water. The brushwork and detail are absolutely superb. This is a fantastic painting and an excellent example of Priestman's work.

Signed lower right.

Provenance Sussex estate. 

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Henry Dawson (1811-1878)

Autumnal Evening on the Banks of the River Trent, Wilford Nr Nottingham

This stunning, large British mid 19th century exhibited river Trent landscape oil painting by noted artist Henry Dawson was described as 'one of the Principle Pictures of 1858' in The Life of Henry Dawson by Alfred Dawson. It was painted in 1858 and is signed and dated with an inscription as the title on the reverse. It was exhibited at the British Institute the same year.  The artist regularly visited Nottingham where he had family connections. He is recorded for instance as travelling to Nottingham in October 1858. The river Trent at Nottingham was a favourite subject of Dawson's and one which he returned to on many of his visits to Nottingham. His friend and fellow artist William Henry Knight wrote that Dawson had reached a level in painting that will place him 'immensely above any living landscape painter'. After mentioning the impiety of going beyond Turner he continued: 'One thing I will venture to affirm...is that Turner has never painted so luminous a sun as yours.'
Indeed, Autumnal Evening on the Banks of the Trent, Wilford near Nottingham depicts the river to the right and the bank to the left with cows watering in the evening sun with trees further down stream. The river has the most beautiful reflections of the descending sun. The colours in the sky and water are just stunning as is the brushwork and details. This large and impressive British Victorian exhibited river landscape oil painting has excellent provenance including exhibition history, previous owner and literature citation and is an excellent example of Dawson's work.

Signed and dated 1858, and with inscription as title on the reverse and further inscription 'H Dawson No.1'

Unframed.

Provenance British Institution, 1859 no.36. Nottingham University Art Gallery, Henry Dawson (1811-1878) Centenary Exhibition. no. 49.
                        Collection of Horace Woodward, Esq. Howes Gallery, Brighton. Edward C.Wigg, Esq. Loxwood Place, Loxwood. Sussex. Thence to the present vendor.

Literature: The Life of Henry Dawson, Landscape Painter 1811-1878, by Alfred Dawson, Seeley & Co. London 1891. p 72 where listed as ' one of the Principal Pictures of 1858'

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