Items Similar to A pair of sand pictures by Benjamin Zobel after paintings by de Loutherbourg
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21
A pair of sand pictures by Benjamin Zobel after paintings by de Loutherbourg
About the Item
These extraordinary ‘paintings’ were created using coloured grains of sand rather than paints. Each is after an original painting by Philip James de Loutherbourg. The first scene shows the Battle of Hastings with a central mounted figure, presumably William the Conqueror, with a red plume in his helmet, raising his sword against a fighter on foot. A printed version of this image, shown above, was made by William Bromley. (See the British Museum registration number 1858,1009.115 for a fine impression.) The second scene, composed with a similar central mounted knight with a raised axe (sword in the original) represents Richard the Lionheart in combat against Saladin at the Battle of Acre. In this case the print was made by Anker Smith (ibid. number 1858,1009.117). In the original giltwood frames. English, circa 1800.
Benjamin Zobel (1762-1830) began his career in Bavaria (Swabia) in the family confectionery business. This apprenticeship became crucial to his career as a sand painter. When he turned eighteen he moved to Amsterdam where he studied miniature painting before moving to London, where he was employed by Ecchard Brothers of Chelsea for whom he designed patterned wallpapers, linens and silks. Three years later he was employed by the Prince Regent's chef Louis Weltje, and became a `Table Decker' at Windsor Castle. The custom of `table decking' had been introduced into England by George III, where the tablecloth at dinner was elaborately decorated with designs of coloured sands, marble dust, powdered glass or breadcrumbs. Zobel became a skilled confectioner and was entrusted with the pictures made in coloured sugars that decorated the huge tarts served at banquets. The method he employed for making sugar patterns was identical to that which he used to make his sand pictures; the sugar, or sand, was shaken through a cut and pleated playing card. Having converted the ephemeral process of sugar pattern to a permanent form of picture making, and believing that there was a future in it, he continued to make his sand pictures in his spare time. The ancient Japanese skill of bonkei or `tray picture' was known, but Zobel has the reputation of being the inventor of the sand painting technique, and he was certainly the first to introduce the art to England. The subject matter of Zobel's sand-pictures ranges from battles and biblical scenes to landscapes and flowers, although animals, particularly horses, sheep and pigs held a particular fascination for him. His compositions were often taken from the paintings of his dear friend, George Morland. Zobel constructed his images with painstaking precision and was careful to describe every detail and texture, from the soft fur of a tiger to the rough, dusty ground of the battlefield. His works are extremely rare, not least due to the fragile nature of their construction.
Philip de Loutherbourg was born into a family of painters in France and won great acclaim in England as a history painter in particular. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy in 1801 and in 1807 was titled “Historical Painter to the Duke of Gloucester”.
- Dimensions:Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Width: 26.5 in (67.31 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1800
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Cleaned.
- Seller Location:Lymington, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU973029220662
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Established in 1982
1stDibs seller since 2013
108 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
Associations
LAPADA - The Association of Arts & Antiques Dealers
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Lymington, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- A Pair of Sand Pictures by Benjamin Zobel, framed by Benjamin TaylorLocated in Lymington, HampshireA Pair of Sand Pictures by Benjamin Zobel, framed by Benjamin Taylor, each showing a farming scene, one with four sheep under a large oak tree by a field gate...Category
Antique 1830s English Decorative Art
MaterialsPaper
- Pair of French Reverse Glass Paintings or CartoonsLocated in Lymington, HampshireA pair of French reverse glass paintings or cartoons, each of oval form, one depicting a man with a mass of hair or full wig using a brush to fence with a woman wielding a broom, the...Category
Antique 1830s French Sporting Art Paintings
MaterialsGlass, Giltwood, Paint
- Pair of Watercolours by 'Albert' Gordon Thomas R.S.WLocated in Lymington, HampshireA pair of watercolours by (Albert) Gordon Thomas R.S.W ( 1893-1970), one titled ‘Summer Afternoon Weymouth’showing a gentleman’s motor yacht in the foreground and the other ‘Yachts a...Category
Vintage 1960s English Paintings
MaterialsPaint, Paper
- Pair of Carved Lime Wood PicturesLocated in Lymington, HampshireA pair of Swiss carved lime-wood pictures one showing a hunter being attacked by an eagle as he attempts to raid its nest, the other a climber rescuing a g...Category
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Decorative Art
MaterialsWood
- Unusual Pair of Italian Silk Embroidery and Gouache Painted Paper PicturesLocated in Lymington, HampshireAn unusual pair of Italian silk embroidery and gouache painted paper pictures, both with scenes from Classical antiquity, one showing two warri...Category
Antique 1810s Italian Decorative Art
MaterialsSilk, Paint
- Oil on Canvas by R G Thurgood HM Cruiser 'Vindictive'By Thomas George ThurgoodLocated in Lymington, HampshireAn oil on canvas by R G Thurgood of HM Cruiser 'Vindictive', Assaulted the 'Mole' at Zeebrugge against the Germans, April 1918. Thomas George Thurgood (1876–1953) A very simi...Category
Vintage 1910s English Decorative Art
MaterialsPaint
You May Also Like
- Pair of Large Neoclassical Grisaille Paintings after Thorvaldsen Reliefs, 1920Located in Rome, ITEarly 20th century Italian Grisaille paintings, oil on wood after a famous Thorvaldsen reliefs. Mythological scene with a finely carved and gilt- wood frame. - Cupid complains to V...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Paintings
- California Studio Navajo Sand Painting Mosaic Art Panel of Thunderbird, 1960sBy I. D. HennyLocated in Camden, MEA Navajo sand painting mosaic art wall panel of the Navajo mythological Father Sky or Thunderbird created in the 1960s in a non traditional format...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
MaterialsCeramic
- Dutch Painting, After Adrian OstadeLocated in Aalsgaarde, DKDutch painting, after Adrian Ostade (1610-1685). Proveniens: private family collection from Stockholm, Sweden. Measures: H. 51 W. 51 cm H. 20 W. 20 i...Category
Antique 17th Century Dutch Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Paint
- Benjamin Jorj Harris, Newman Decor, Art Deco Painting, U.S.A., circa 1940sLocated in Chatham, ONBenjamin Jorj Harris, Newman Decor - American Art Deco airbrush painting on illustration board - featuring an over-sized group of white gardenia blossoms ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Paintings
MaterialsComposition
- Pair of Antique Victorian Oil Paintings by George JenningsLocated in London, GBA beautiful pair of antique Victorian gilt framed oil paintings. These are signed by the well known artist George Jennings, they date from around the l...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Paintings
MaterialsPaint, Canvas, Giltwood
- Pair of 1960s Abstract PaintingsLocated in Delray Beach, FLBeautiful pair of oil painting painted on canvas from the 1980 Actual painting size 8" x 9.5. Could hang horizontally or vertically.Category
Vintage 1960s American Paintings
MaterialsCanvas
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Antique Japanese Wall Art
Pair Marble Wall
Custom Wall Case
Pair Wall Mounted Tables
Wall Mount Tables Pair
Japanese Pictures
19th Century Dinner Table
Banquet Table
Banquetting Table
George Iii Pair Table
Antique Banquet
Miniature Pictures
Antique Picture Frames Pictures
Antique Picture Frames And Pictures
Pictures Of Antique Picture Frames
English 19th Century Picture Frame
Japanese Wall Decorate
19th Century Cut Glass Wall