Items Similar to Caerulea - British Art Deco c1935 watercolour and ink figurative painting
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 18
Averil BurleighCaerulea - British Art Deco c1935 watercolour and ink figurative painting Circa 1935
Circa 1935
About the Item
This beautiful British Art Deco 1930's water colour and ink painting on paper is by well respected artist Averil Mary Burleigh. Painted circa 1935 the composition is of three female figures with flowing robes and head dresses with slender tree trunks beyond them and vivid blue of the sky meeting the sea. (Caerula pertains to the colour of the sky and sea). They are playing between them with two balls or globes. A beautiful painting full of fun and movement and that amazing blue.
Signed lower left, and inscribed on a label verso.
Provenance: Surrey estate.
Condition. Water colour and ink on paper. Image size is 24 inches by 16 inches and in excellent condition.
Frame. Housed in a gilt frame. Framed size is 30 inches by 22 inches and in good condition.
Averil Mary Burleigh born Averil Mary Dell (1883 – 1949) was a British artist and painter. Based in Sussex, Burleigh was known for painting in egg tempera with the subject usually involving a central figure. Her husband and daughter also painted but she is the best regarded of the three. Burleigh was born in 1883 in Hassocks in West Sussex and went on to study at the Brighton School of Art. She married the painter Charles Burleigh and they lived and worked together as artists in Hove and Sussex. They designed a house with a large sun-lit top floor studio. Their daughter Veronica, who would also become a notable artist, was born there in 1909. The family never became rich from their works, and often relied on Burleigh's flair for buying and selling shares. In 1911 Burleigh illustrated a book of John Keats' poetry and went on to illustrate plays by Shakespeare. In 1913 she was featured in Studio magazine. In 1927 Burleigh illustrated Thistledown by Leolyn Louise Everett. From 1939 she was a member of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours. Burleigh became very ill in the 1940s, dying in 1949. Shortly before she died, Burleigh was elected an associate of the Royal Watercolour Society. Burleigh specialised in tempera painting, although she also worked in chalk and watercolour. Her works tend to have a bright colour palette with contrasting colours to lead the eye around the picture. A sharp luminosity and strong sense of design govern Burleigh's tempera and watercolour paintings. Frequently, her works portray decorative renaissance subjects, usually dominated by a female figure who is regularly modelled on her daughter, Veronica Burleigh. Burleigh however is also known to have completed images of still life and flowers. Over her career Burleigh's Pre-Raphaelite manner developed in to a freer style. At the start of Burleigh's career she produced 24 colour illustrations for The Poems of John Keats in 1911. Her illustrations are Pre-Raphaelite in style and are dominated by a female figure. This is seen in 'Isabella; or, The Pot of Basil' which portrays a prominent female figure in decorative fabrics leaning upon a flourishing pot of basil. Bright pastel colours adorn the page, as they do with the other illustrations. This colour palette, along with Burleigh's use of flowing lines and bird, butterfly, and flower motifs, have led Helen Haworth to consider her "delicate watercolours more appropriate to a fairy-tale than Keats". Kostas Boyiopoulus however, proposes that this statement does not take into account Burleigh's illustrations to Keats' ballad, "La Belle Dame sans Merci" which Boyiopoulus has described as a "nightmare" due to Burleigh's "faery's child" metamorphosing into a femme fatale. The first of Burleigh's illustrations for "La Belle Dame sans Merci" depicts a meeting with a beautiful woman who has a garland of roses adorning her hair, while the second portrays the woman seated, surrounded by her victims tied to trees. In Burleigh's first illustration the wind disturbs the woman - sending her dress billowing and hair blowing, while the belle dame in the second illustration is undisturbed by the fallen leaves collecting beneath her skirts.The male warriors and rulers are strung up in trees, completely defenceless, a dystopian vision of masculinity on the eve of modern warfare. What's more, the arabesque Art Nouveau pattern on the belle dame's dress presents the female antagonist as "current".
Burleigh also illustrated plays by Shakespeare. The Chira from the late 1920s is a typical Burleigh tempera painting. It is thought there could be a literary connection to this piece. The painting is very decorative, placing it within her Renaissance revival paintings. The model is likely to have been Burleigh's daughter Veronica, while the flowers and medieval city are figments of the artist's imagination. The Still Room (1928) is a later tempera painting by Burleigh in which she uses her daughter Veronica as the model. The painting is an example of Burleigh's use of a saturated colour palette, in comparison to her early illustrations for Keats's poetry, and the use of colour to direct the viewer's eye diagonally through the painting. In the summer of 1933, the painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London.
Exhibitions
Burleigh exhibited throughout her career, including at the Royal Academy in London, at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, the Society of Women Artists, with the New English Art Club, the Royal Cambrian Academy, the Sussex Women's Art Club, the Walker Art Gallery and at the Paris Salon. From 1912 to 1945 she was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy, which included showing a series of 17 tempera paintings there between 1930 and 1935. Burleigh also contributed to the 1913 Arts and Crafts Society exhibition held at the Grovesnor Galleries.
- Creator:Averil Burleigh (1883 - 1949, British)
- Creation Year:Circa 1935
- Dimensions:Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU853115728452
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
1stDibs seller since 2018
441 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllStanding Nude - British 1946 exhibited art female portrait - Royal Academician
By Christopher Sanders
Located in London, GB
An original 1946 drawing painted by Royal Academy artist Christopher Sanders. A fine example of a Modern British nude drawing by an artist who exhibited hundreds of times at The Roya...
Category
20th Century Art Deco Nude Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink, Pen
The Market Place Venice - British Victorian art watercolour painting Italy
By Thomas Ellison
Located in London, GB
A fine, large watercolour by British listed artist Thomas Ellison who exhibited at The Royal Academy and the British Art institutions. It is a busy scene depicting the market at Veni...
Category
19th Century Realist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Portrait of an Italian Peasant - Victorian art watercolour painting
By Federico Bartolini
Located in London, GB
This beautiful 19th century Italian watercolour portrait painting is by noted artist Frederico Bartolini. It was painted circa 1890 in Rome and is signed and in good condition behind...
Category
19th Century Realist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
$4,432 Sale Price
20% Off
A Morning Concert - Victorian British art w/c painting black entertainers beach
By Owen Dalziel
Located in London, GB
A superb British Victorian watercolour by Owen Dalziel which is titled A Morning Concert and is dated 1883. A fine large painting, it is a super historical record of a Victorian beach...
Category
19th Century Victorian Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
The Village Maids - British Victorian art exhibited RA 1880 watercolour painting
By Marcella M Walker
Located in London, GB
This stunning exhibited Pre-Raphaelite 19th century watercolour painting is by British Victorian female artist Marcella M Walker. The painting was painted in 1880 and exhibited at th...
Category
19th Century Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Gypsies Around a Camp Fire - British art Victorian painting pastoral landscape
By Henry George Hine
Located in London, GB
A vibrant Victorian watercolour which is signed and dated 1869 by Henry George Hine RI. A lovely scene around the camp fire with gypsies such as the man smoking and the laundry hung ...
Category
19th Century Victorian Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
You May Also Like
Original French Art Deco Gouache Illustration Drawing by J. Hilly
Located in Atlanta, GA
An original Art Deco illustration hand-painted with ink and gouache on paper. The drawing features two elegant women with large windows and drapery in the background. This image was ...
Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink, Paper, Gouache
French Art Deco Original Gouache Illustration Drawing by Raymonde Hacker
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Art Deco illustrative drawing, hand painted in ink and gouache on blue laid paper. The design includes a collection of fashion accessories, handbags, gloves, hats, and perfu...
Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Ink, Gouache
Rare Art deco painting of Jane Marnac in a hat by Gesmar, gouache and ink 1921
By Charles Gesmar
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
A rare and exquisite gouache and watercolor painting of Jane Marnac by renowned Art Deco artist Charles Gesmar. The artwork features a topless Jane Marnac in an elegant, oversized ha...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Nude Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Ink, Watercolor, Gouache
Art Deco, 20th Century, fashion, dress design for 'Estelle'
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Circle of Erte, Romain de Tirtoff (Russian / French 1892 – 1990)
A dress design for Estelle
Pencil, ink and watercolour on paper
Inscribed ‘Estelle’ (upper left) with other notations...
Category
20th Century Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink, Paper, Watercolor, Pencil
The Fired Worker - Watercolor and Ink by Luigi Bompard - 1920s
Located in Roma, IT
The Fired Worker is an original Modern Artwork realized in the first half of the 20th Century by Luigi Bompard (Bologna, 8 September 1879 - Rome, 24 February 1953).
Watercolor and c...
Category
1920s Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink, Watercolor
Elegant Ladies - Watercolor and Ink by Luigi Bompard - 1920s
Located in Roma, IT
"Elegant Ladies" is an original watercolored ink drawing on ivory-colored paper, realized by Luigi Bompard (1879-1953) in 1920s.
Hand-signed in pen o...
Category
1920s Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink, Watercolor
$495 Sale Price
25% Off