Oliver Messel

Rashomon - A 1950 costume design for the New York Theatre by Oliver Messel

1959

PAUL SANDBY (1731-1809) A Young Lady with Two Beaux Pencil and brown wash Framed 11 by 13.5 cm., 4 ¼ by 5 ¼ in. (frame size 27.5 by 30 cm., 10 ¾ by 11 ¾ in.) Provenance: R F Pearce; Agnew, London; Private collection. Sandby was born in Nottingham and moved to London in 1745. He and his brother Thomas first worked in the military drawing department at the Tower of London, later working on a military survey of new roads and bridges in the Highlands. On leaving this post in 1751 he spent some time living with his brother who had been appointed Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park. There he assisted his brother, and made a series of drawings of the castle, town and neighbourhood. In 1760 he settled in London where he contributed to the first exhibition of the Society of Artists where he regularly exhibited until the foundation of the Royal Academy in 1768, becoming one of its founder members. In same year he was appointed chief drawing...

HARRY MORLEY, ARA, RWS (1881-1943) The Romany Camp Signed and dated 1927 Watercolour and bodycolour, framed 36.5 by 52cm., 14 ¼ by 20 ½ in. (frame size 60.5 by 75 cm., 23 ¾ by 29...

JOHN DRONSFIELD (1900-1951) Yellow and Green Gown Watercolour and chalk Unframed 38 by 27.5 cm., 15 by 11 in. (mount size 59 by 47 cm., 23 ¼ b...

RICHARD WESTALL, RA (1765-1836) Cupid Sleeping; from a poem of Mrs Robinson - The Duchess of Devonshire Discovers the Sleeping Cupid Watercolour on paper, oval 36 by 44.5 cm., 14 ¼ by 18 in. (frame size 55 by 66 cm., 21 ¾ by 26 in.) Exhibited: London, Royal Academy, 1792, no.448. Richard Westall was bon in Reepham, near Norwich. Initially apprenticed to a London silver engraving he began studying at the Royal Academy Schools from 1785 and exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy between 1784 and 1836. Westall became an Associate member of the Royal Academy in 1792 and a full member in 1794. Westall painted in both oil and watercolour, his works being romantic and neoclassical in style. He contributing to both Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery and Fuseli’s Milton Gallery and was also a prolific book illustrator of both fiction and poetry including works by Sir Walter Scott and Byron, whose portrait he also painted. For a time he was also art master to the young Princess Victoria. This is probably Westall’s 1792 Royal Academy exhibit (no.448). The subject was inspired by the poem Cupid Sleeping by the poetess-actress Mary Darby Robinson, which had been published in the previous year. The poem was dedicated to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and the picture show the Duchess discovering the sleeping cupid who she then relieves of his bow and arrows. Mrs Robinson was not only the Duchess’s protégée but also the first public mistress of the Prince of Wales. William Nutter’s engraving of Westall’s picture was also dedicated to the Duchess of Devonshire. Close in a woodbine's tangled shade, The blooming god asleep was laid; His brows with mossy roses crown'd; His golden darts lay scatter'd round; To shade his auburn, curled head, A purple canopy was spread, Which gently with the breezes play'd, And shed around a soften'd shade. Upon his downy smiling cheek, Adorned with many a "dimple sleek," Beam'd glowing health and tender blisses, His coral lip...

NICO JUNGMAN (1872-1935) The Toy Boat Signed l.r.; Nico W Jungman Watercolour and bodycolour over traces of pencil Framed 44 by 32 cm., 17 ¼ by 12 ½ in...

WILLIAM EDWARD FROST, RA (1810-1877) Echo Signed l.r.: W E Frost RA Watercolour and pen and ink Unframed 16.5 by 10.5 cm., 6 ½ by 4 ¼ in. (mount size 29.5 by 22.5 cm., 11 ½ by 9 i...

Limited Edition Geclee Print of 50 Edition, on Watercolor Paper , hand-embellished by watercolor. The size of geclee print is 11"X14" . Size with the white matt is 20″X16″. Frame i...

Limited Edition Geclee Print of 50 Edition, on Watercolor Paper , hand-embellished by watercolor. The size of geclee print is 11"X14" . Size with the white matt is 20″X16″. Frame i...

Limited Edition Geclee Print of 50 Edition, on Watercolor Paper , hand-embellished by watercolor. The size of geclee print is 11"X14" . Size with the white matt is 20″X16″. Frame i...

Unknown Artist (Bowman) (early twentieth century) Girl with Roses Watercolor on paper, 5 x 8 inches Framed: 13 x 16 inches Signed and dated at lower right: “Bowman/.06”

A. Mattolini (Italian, early twentieth century) The Chestnut Vendor Watercolor on paper, 12 3/4 X 9 inches Signed at lower left: “A Mattolini”

William Magrath (Irish, 1838-1918) Woman with a Blue Kerchief Watercolor on paper, mounted; 18 1/2 x 14 1/2 inches Signed and dated at upper right: "W Magrath/1876" Stamped on stret...