We're heading into a heat wave, so who wouldnt rather be beside the sea, with a gentle breeze?
Joseph Henderson (1832-1908)
Washing Day in a Coastal Landscape
This lovely Scottish Impressionist Victorian oil painting is by noted artist Joseph Henderson. Painted circa 1880 it is entitled Washing Day. The composition is of two women laying out white sheets to dry on flat rocks by the sea. Two little children sit by some upturned boats amusing themselves whilst the women work. Seagulls wheel over head and boats are out on the aquamarine sea beneath a hazy sky. The Scottish Impressionistic brushwork is just superb and the dashes of colour in the foreground and vibrant sea are just beautiful. This is an excellent Scottish Impressionist painting with interesting subject matter and a superb example of Joseph Henderson's work.
Signed lower right.
Provenance Sale, Bonhams, Edinburgh, 24 August 2007, lot 1294.
James Mc Clure and Son - Glasgow Gallery. Label Verso.
Private collection, UK
Description This lovely 19th century portrait oil painting is by noted British artist William Owen. Painted circa 1810 the composition is a young girl kneeling to feed her chickens in a landscape. The young girl is wearing a white dress with red sash and is holding up her skirt which is full of corn for the chickens. She is smiling at the artist/viewer as she reaches out to drop corn. Several brown, black and grey chickens are busy pecking at the corn in front of her. In the background is a river landscape. This is a very sweet, natural portrait of a little girl enjoying herself in nature with animals. The colouring, details and brushwork are lovely and make this an excellent example of Owen's work.
We are lucky enough to have our own hens, ex commercial girls rescued via Fresh Start for Hens. We currently have 9 and these two beauties, Toffe and Rosie, are almost 3 and a half now, so they've had two years of retirement and freedom with us. So this is why we have a soft spot for paintings of chickens!
On a recent trip to Sciliy, we immediately recognised a painting of Judith with the Head of Holofernes in the Madralisca Museum in Cefalu. We also have a version of this story, as seen below.
Margaret Maitland Howard (1898-1983)
Judith
This absolutely fascinating British Post Impressionist figurative exhibited oil painting is by noted female artist Margret Maitland Howard. It was awarded first prize in the Summer Composition Prize at Slade School of Art in 1929 and exhibited in 1931 at the Royal Academy, London, simply entitled Judith. It is a full-length depiction of Judith, having just seduced and decapitated Holofernes, an invading Syrian General, in order to save her besieged city of Bethulia from his surrounding army. (The full story is below Howard's biography). She is aided by her maidservant, Abra. In the biblical story, this act is a significant moment in the narrative, symbolizing courage and empowerment of women in the face of great adversity.
The story of Judith and Holofernes has been popular since the renaissance, depicted mostly by male artists. It's like a female version of David and Goliath. However, female artist Artemisia Gentileschi's (1630-1656) depictions of Judith slaying Holofernes have often been interpreted through a feminist lens due to her personal history as a rape survivor and her status as a woman in a male-dominated profession, both causing female rage. While her works share thematic and compositional elements with Caravaggio’s earlier rendition, Artemisia’s versions intensify the physical struggle and violence. Unlike Caravaggio, who portrays Judith as delicate and her maid as an elderly onlooker, Artemisia depicts both women as young, strong, and actively collaborating in the act.
In this stunning Post Impressionist 1931 version everything is paired down into simple shapes and colours; the white tents against the blue sky, the bloody tip of the Holfernes own knife against Judith's pale skin. The emphasis is on Judith, not the struggle. The scene is post sex and murder and what she has just had to go through, (chastely celibate since her husband's death), emphasised by her nudity, as well as the murder she has carried out, in order to save her besieged city, when no one else could. Both women look to the far right, presumably at their city and the reason for their heroic act which led to Holofernes' army being defeated. This is a superb exhibited painting by a well sought after female artist depicting a biblical story of a supremely brave woman in a Post Impressionist 1920's style.
Signed 'Maitland Howard' lower left
Provenance Exhibited: Royal Academy, 1931, as 'Judith', no. 740
Caelt Gallery, London, mis-titled as 'Solomon's Head', where purchased by the previous owner in February 1993; Private Collection, UK
This vibrant British Post Impressionist exhibited floral still life oil painting is by noted Jewish artist Jacob Kramer. His family left Russia to come to England in 1900 when Kramer was only eight years old and he ran away from his home in Leeds when ten. This gorgeous floral oil painting was painted circa 1941 and exhibited in Leeds. The composition is of spring flowers including yellow daffodils, orange tulips and white hyacinths with foliage. The brushwork and green background seems to extend the painting outwards. This is a superb British forties floral oil painting and an excellent example of Kramer's work of that period.
Signed lower right.
Provenance Leeds, Leeds City Art Gallery and Temple Newsam House, Jacob Kramer Exhibition, no. 44 (leant by Mr & Mrs M. C. Lui).
Let's start the week with this rather gorgeous Orientalist oil painting. Can you make out the signature? more detailed photos in main advert in latest stock gallery or click the link below.
French Orientalist (19th century)
Portrait of Man Cleaning Sword
This impressive Victorian French Orientalist oil painting is attributed to an artist from the French School. It was painted in 1882 and is indistinctly signed. The composition is of a seated man in profile, a white cloth wrapped around his waist and covering his legs and a white scarf tied around his head and dark curly hair. he is gazing downwards as he cleans his sword, the edge glinting. He is surrounded by rich drapes, a gold one behind him, beautifully accentuating his muscular anatomy. Some areas of the tent are in shadows but the light is coming in from the left and beautifully illuminating his face, arm and wrap and sword edge as well as the golden background. A richly patterned rung is beneath his feet and an octagonal shield hangs to the right. As well as the gorgeous textures and vibrant colours, the brushwork, especially on his white wrap and shadowed body is just superb. This is a very attractive Orientalist oil painting by a talented Victorian artist.
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