Early 1800s Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

English School early 19th century, Portrait of two children, Pencil and light heightenings of white and red gouache 29.5 x 23 cm In quite good condition : the pape is yellowed by time and there foxings and stains visible (please refer to the photographs) In a vintage frame (some minor damages) : 48.5 x 38 cm This charming drawing of children is typical of English portraiture as it had its heyday shortly before with Reynolds and Gainsborough. The codes required, for example, that the female sitter...

Jean-Henri Cless (1774-1812) Portrait of a young woman in a landscape signed "Cless fec" for fecit on the lower left Brown ink and brown ink wash on pencil Size of the sheet : 31.5 x 22 cm Size of the motive : 24.5 x 17 cm very simply framed under glass without actual frame 32 x 22.5 cm This pre...

An early Devonshire landscape, ex-collection West Collection of British Watercolors & the Fine Art Society, London. Circa 1800 Ink and brown wash on paper, 7 1/8 x 10 1/4 inches (...

Recruits on a March Ink and watercolor on paper, mounted on support Unsigned Condition: watercolor sheet laid down on paper, moderately faded Original Ackermann frame and matting Ima...

Boissier (painter and portraitist active at the end of the 18th century) Portrait of a young man Signed and dated "Boissier f(ecit) 1802" on the lower right Pastel on paper transfere...

Drawing Pencil on paper, 17.7 x 26.7 inch; with gilded frame 28.3 x 37 inch The scene is set on the seashore, in the part were the stormy sea is licking the land, made of a rocky an...

Charles George Nicholls (English, flourished 1792 - 1818) Picturesque Gangetic Landscape in India • Circa 1805 • Watercolour on thick paper, ca. 20 x 49.5 cm • Mounted behind a modern passpartout, visible image ca. 19 x 49 cm • Original Georgian frame (newly glassed) , ca. 39 x 70 cm • Signed lower left corner Worldwide shipping is complimentary - There are no additional charges for handling & delivery. Very detailed watercolor painting - note how light reflecting off the water surface was skillfully created by scratching the paper surface. Charles G(J)eorge Nicholls, originally a merchant seaman, was a contemporary of Thomas and William Daniell, and like them, he made several sketching trips whilst in India, including up the Dohab, which is from where this drawing appears to be of. He worked as draughtsman for the East India Company based in Calcutta and was also employed by the Office of the Surveyor-General, where he was involved in the Survey of Orissa, South Bengal. Unfortunately bad eyesight truncated his career and he returned to England in 1815. Nicholls signed his middle name’George’ using a ‘G’, aswell as a ‘J.’ Nicholl’s work surfaces from time to time and can command high prices at auction – especially for his Indian landscapes. For example, a drawing by Nicholls ( a page of an album) was auctioned by Sotheby's (Valuable Printed Books, June 1997, Lot 407), or a series of water coulours were auctioned by Christie's (Visions of India, June 1998) and in September 2000 two small drawings were auctioned again by Christie's (Exploration & Travel with Visions of India). Also, I know there is a unsigned water colour titled 'Bridge over the River Bama by Benares' in the collection of the Oriental & India Office Collections (OICO) at the British Library. Here is a rare opportunity, to acquire a large format watercolor (double album page), featuring a very impressive view of what India looked like over 200 years ago - seen through the eyes of a skilled artist, in employment by the famous East India Company. I also think that as India opens up more and more rapidly to the world and enjoys increasing prosperity, the interest in cultural heritage, trophy objects like the one I am offering here today, will find their way back to India, into a collection or onto a wall in a chic office or luxurious apartment. The water colour drawing...