Jonathan Pratt

19th Century genre oil painting of a woman spinning wool

C1880

Frank Moss Bennett British, (1874-1952) Papers to Discuss Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1922 Image size: 13.5 inches x 19.5 inches Size including frame: 20.25 inches x 26.25 inches A finely painted scene by Frank Moss Bennett depicting three gentlemen in 18th century costume conversing at a table. One of the men, dressed as a lawyer, looks over a document whilst the others smoke from clay tobacco pipes. Frank Moss Bennett was a portrait and genre painter who was born in Liverpool on November 15, 1874. He was the son of the Iron Founder Henry Mellor Bennett who was also became mayor of Liverpool. His family’s wealth enabled him to receive a good education, initially with a governess and then at Clifton College in Bristol. His talent for art emerged at a young age, however it was not until he left Bristol that he decided to follow a career in painting. He moved to London in 1892, most likely with his family who went to live in Croydon after his father’s retirement. There he studied at the Slade School of Art where he was taught by Henry Tonks and John Singer Sargent. He also met fellow artist Eddie Wells who became his friend, travel partner and brother-in-law. He later attended the St John’s School of Art and in 1896 entered the Royal Academy school, winning a gold medal and a scholarship to travel. He began exhibiting at the Royal Academy from 1898 with a work entitled ‘A Book Plate’, continuing to exhibit there until 1929. He also exhibited at the Paris Salon, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour. In 1900, Bennett used his scholarship money to go on a painting expedition to Italy with his friend Wells. On his return he lived with his family at 18 Warrington Road, Croydon and took a studio nearby at Alipore, Duppas Hill, where he began specialising in historical genre and portraits. His work portrayed life in seventeenth and eighteenth century England, depicting figures in tavern interiors, gentlemen discussing affairs of State or at leisure in their homes. He wanted his works to be historically accurate and used authentic props and antiques. He also accrued a large collection of costumes, some of which were later given to the Platt Hall Museum, Manchester and the Museum of London. He also developed an interest in historical architecture, particularly Tudor and made many sketches of buildings...

Harry Brooker British, (1848-1940) The Model Aeroplane Oil on canvas, signed & indistinctly dated Image size: 13.5 inches x 17.5 inches Size including...

George Goodwin Kilburne British, (1839-1924) A Tender Moment Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 15.75 inches x 12.75 inches Size including frame: 20.5 inches x 17.5 inches George G...

Charles Hunt Jnr British, (1829-1900) A Deal to be Done Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 24.75 inches x 34.75 inches Size including frame: 32.25 inches x 42.25 inches Charles Hunt was born in Kensington, London and was part of a dynasty of painters. He was the son of the genre painter Charles Hunt (1803-1877) and father to Edgar Hunt (1876-1955) and Walter Hunt (1861-1941) both of whom were taught by their father and became successful artists in their own right. Two more of his children Reuben Hunt...

Charles Hunt Jnr British, (1829-1900) A Visitor Calls Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 24.75 inches x 34.75 inches Size including frame: 32.25 inches x 42.25 inches Charles Hunt was born in Kensington, London and was part of a dynasty of painters. He was the son of the genre painter Charles Hunt (1803-1877) and father to Edgar Hunt (1876-1955) and Walter Hunt (1861-1941) both of whom were taught by their father and became successful artists in their own right. Two more of his children Reuben Hunt...

Alfred Provis British, (1818-1890) By the Fireside Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1869 Image size: 10.5 inches x 15.5 inches Size including frame: 21.5 inches x 26.5 inches This charming cottage scene by Alfred Provis features a woman preparing supper by a fire with her young daughter. As the mother peels the turnips and places them in the pot, the girl’s attention is drawn to the kitten feeding from a saucer. The dress and hat of the woman bears a similarity to those found Provis’s other scenes of Welsh cottage interiors. The artist was known to have visited North Wales around the time this painting was produced. In 1869, he exhibited a work entitled ‘Interior of a Welsh Farmhouse’ at the Royal Society of British Artists. Given the level of detail in the painting and the fact that it is in such an impressive original frame, it is possible this is the same painting as the one exhibited. Alfred Provis was a genre painter born on 18 February, 1818 in Chippenham, Wiltshire. He was the son of John Provis, a timber merchant and his second wife Ann Banks. He spent time in London being tutored by the historical and portrait artist John Wood (1801-1870) before returning to Chippenham. He began exhibiting at the Royal Society of British Artists in 1843, continuing to exhibit there regularly until 1886. He made his debut at the Royal Academy in 1846 with a work entitled ‘A Cottage Door...

This late 19th-century oil painting attributed to Danish artist Pietro Krohn (1840-1905) depicts a gently lit interior with a woman knitting before a statue of the Venus de Milo. It’...

Attributed to Randolph Caldecott, a well-known English painter, and illustrator of English Pub interior scenes. The scene is great fun, as we can see di...

Daniel Pasmore the Younger was a London genre and portrait artist who exhibited mostly at the Society of British Artists in Suffolk Street, London. He i...

The Cottage Interior English artist, 19th century oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 24 x 36 inches provenance: private collection, UK condition: a few small scuffs to the surface and m...

This mid-19th-century oil painting by Scottish artist Robert Thorburn Ross RSA (1816-1876) depicts a seated woman carding wool within a rustic interior. Robert Thorburn Ross RSA was...

An original oil on canvas painting measuring 17 x 8 inches by F.S. Muschamp, signed lower right. In the nineteenth century, the Neo-Classical movement bloomed, bringing forth a new style and interpretation of the past. F. Sydney Muschamp...