Frank Moss Bennett

Historical genre oil painting of a cavalier studying a map

1927

Paul-Emile Perboyre French, (1851-1929) The Surrender Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1916 Image size: 20.5 inches x 25 inches Size including frame: 26.25 inches x 30.75 inches A well...

William Oliver British, (1823-1901) Confidences Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 40.75 inches x 27.75 inches Size including frame: 47.75 inches x 34.75 inches A delightful genre painting of two women with flowers by William Oliver. The young women can be seen in a garden setting posed next to an arrangement of spring flowers on a wooden stool. One of the women is shown seated on a grassy bank wearing a white dress with flowers in her hair. The other, dressed in green stands beside her holding a posy of flowers. William Oliver was born William Oliver Williams at Worcester in 1823 to William and Jane Williams (née Oliver). Both his parents were from Wales but had relocated to Worcester where his father worked as a chemist before becoming a surgeon. Oliver showed a talent for art at an early age and when the family later moved to Birmingham he began working at the Government School of Design, where he later became the assistant master. In 1848, he moved to London where he enrolled at the Royal Academy and was admitted to the RA school on 16 December, 1848. Whilst there, he married Jane Hughes on 30 December, 1852. The couple lived in St Pancras and went on to have 10 children. Two of their sons, William Oliver Williams, known as Oliver Rhys (1854-1907) and Reginald Arthur Williams or Reginald Arthur (1862-1899), also became artists. Oliver began exhibiting in 1851 under his full name William Oliver Williams at the British Institution and in 1858 made his debut at the Royal Academy. He also exhibited around the country at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Glasgow Institute, Manchester Art Gallery and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. In the early 1850’s he won a commission from the Arundel Society to travel to Italy to draw Giotto’s fresco in Padua and other classical works. He later used his knowledge to incorporate Roman and Greek themes into his paintings, particularly fabrics and costumes. Sometime during the early 1860’s he was declared bankrupt and moved his family to Corwen in Wales and later to Aberystwyth near to be closer to where his parents had retired. Perhaps prompted by this, he began signing his works William Oliver from 1867 and resumed exhibiting at the Royal Academy and elsewhere. By 1872, his circumstances had improved and he returned to London, residing in the St John’s Wood area. He spent his final years living at 41 Queens gate Gardens, Kensington where he died on 16 April, 1901. Examples of his work are held by a number of public collections including the Aberystwyth University School of Art, Atkinson Art Gallery, Birmingham Museum, Bradford Museum, Kirklees Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, National Museum, Cardiff, Parc Howard Museum, Sewerby Hall Museum, Sheffield Museum, Stockport Heritage Services, Sunderland Museum, Thirlestane Castle and the Walker Art Gallery. Presentation: The work is housed in a new, English made gilt frame which is in excellent condition. Condition: As with all of our original antique oil paintings, this work is offered in ready to hang gallery condition, having been professionally cleaned, restored and revarnished. © Benton Fine Art

Samuel Henry Baker (British, 1824–1909) Ullswater from Gowbarrow Park, Cumberland, late 19th century Oil on canvas In this sweeping view of Ullswater, nestled in the heart of the La...

Fine 19th century oil painting of a bustling Austrian/Germanic village with horse, rider and various figures outside an Inn, attributed to Arthur Georg Ramberg (1819-1879), well known for figurative genre paintings. The rider is carrying a bugle, apparently announcing news to the people; men are sitting by the table drinking, one with a raised stein. Women walking by stop to listen, a man carrying a sack has stopped to watch the rider, people are in the Inn doorway, and one is looking out the window. Children pause their playing. The scene is under a large tree beside the Inn; a whole community waiting for news. There is a great deal of detail in the scene, tree and Inn house...