Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16

Frederick Goodall R.A.
News from the Front - 19th Century Oil Painting Royal Academy Exhibition 1849

1849

$25,957.79
£18,950
€22,331.38
CA$35,667.43
A$39,918.56
CHF 20,834.42
MX$486,800.68
NOK 266,652.24
SEK 252,420.49
DKK 166,656.14
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

‘News from the Front’ by Frederick Goodall R.A. H.R.I. (1822-1904). The painting – which depicts a diverse cross-section of Victorian figures gathered outside a post office as they receive news of the war in India – is signed by the artist and dated 1849-51. Goodall painted three versions of the present work; the larger, entitled ‘The Post Office’, was exhibited at the British Institution in 1850, whilst the smaller version is today in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In 1862, an edition of The Art Journal recalled the paintings great popularity and discussed the figures portrayed... “In front of the door is a group of ‘village politicians’, foremost among whom is the barber whose business it is to gain the earliest intelligence of news that he may retail it to his customers: he holds in his hand a copy of The Times and is reading some war tidings of importance, for the word “Victory” appears on the broad sheet. The brawny figure with the bare arms is the blacksmith, owner of the wicked-looking bull terrier by his side. Nearer to the spectator is the ‘boots’ of the village inn who probably acts also as occasional ostler. The youth in a velveteen jacket is from the mansion and is come for the squire’s letters, and a boy with a board filled with fine fish completes the group. On the other side of the picture are two figures to whom that stolid, round-faced post-boy has brought anything but good tidings; a woman and her boy now in all probability the widow and the fatherless, an open letter with a black seal lies before them; it tells them the ‘victory’ has made them desolate. At least it may be presumed this is the artist’s intention, for the drum at the boy’s side may be taken to signify that he is a soldier’s son. In advance of these is another woman reading a letter to an old Chelsea pensioner and his wife. There is no sad intelligence in her epistle, her child may continue its gambol with the kitten unchecked by its mother whose hour of tribulation has not yet come”. A precocious talent, Frederick Goodall's first professional commission (aged just 16) came from the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and whilst still in his mid-20s he was already one of the most critically acclaimed and financially successful painters in Britain. Between 1838 and 1902 Frederick Goodall exhibited at all the principal London venues, most prominently at the Royal Academy on 165 occasions. Goodall was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1852, a full Royal Academician in 1863, and an Honorary member of the British Institution in 1867. Dimensions: (framed) 110cm x 138cm (43¼” x 54¼”) Dimensions: (canvas only) 89cm x 118cm (35” x 46½”) Medium: Oil on canvas. Provenance: 1860; ‘Artists, Sculptors & Architects’ exhibition in Paris. 1860s; with Vicars Brothers Ltd, London. Private collection of Sir Julian Goldsmid. 1896; Christie’s, where purchased by Nathan Mitchell, 18 Regents Park Road, London. 1901; exhibited in Sheffield. 1902; ‘French and English Painters of the 19th Century’ exhibition at the Guildhall in London. 1902 exhibited in Glasgow. 1972; sold at Bonhams, London. 1989; sold at Sotheby's, London. 1990: with Haynes Fine Art, Broadway. Thence in private UK collection. Presentation: Fine quality gold leaf frame. Condition: Very good. Newly professionally cleaned and revarnished. Ready to hang.
  • Creator:
    Frederick Goodall R.A. (1822 - 1904, British)
  • Creation Year:
    1849
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 43 in (109.22 cm)Width: 54 in (137.16 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Gerrards Cross, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU741316140782

More From This Seller

View All
19th Century Oil Painting of Thomas Fairfax & Battle Horses English Civil War
By John Frederick Herring Jr
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘The Baron’s Charger’ by John Frederick Herring Jr. (1815-1907). The painting – which depicts the Cromwellian nobleman with his battle horses and attendant hounds – is signed by th...
Category

Mid-19th Century English School Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Parley at Bristol, 1643 - 19th Century English Civil War Seige Painting Cromwell
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘Parley at Bristol, 1643’ by Charles Cattermole RI, RBA, ROI (1834-1900). The painting – which depicts the surrender of Parliamentary forces under Nathaniel Fiennes to Prince Ruper...
Category

Mid-19th Century English School Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache

19th Century Oil Painting Victorian Holiday Summer Landscape Royal Academy 1859
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘A Day in the Country’ by William Frederick Witherington R.A. (1785-1865). The painting – which depicts a group of Victorian figures on a summer’s day before an extensive landscape ...
Category

1850s Victorian Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

Vigilance, Loyalty & Devotion - 19th Century Oil Painting Society Beauty & Dogs
By Arthur Wardle
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘Vigilance, Loyalty, and Devotion’ by Arthur Wardle R.B.C. R.I. (1864-1949). The painting – which depicts a young beauty surrounded by poppies and her three faithful canine companio...
Category

Late 19th Century Pre-Raphaelite Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Amor et Pietas - Important 19th Century Royal Academy Exhibition Oil Painting
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘Amor et Pietas’ by Ursula Wood S.W.A. (1868-1956). The painting – which depicts a group of children laying to rest their pet dog – is signed and dated by the artist. Ursula Wood’s ...
Category

1890s Aesthetic Movement Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Important 18th Century Royal Academy Oil Painting of Georgian London Festival
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘St. James’ Day’ by Richard Morton Paye (1750-1820). This large and important 18th century oil on canvas depicts a diverse crowd of Londoners at an oyster stand on a summer’s eveni...
Category

1780s Old Masters Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

You May Also Like

Walter Dendy Sadler RBA, The Introduction
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This charming late 19th-century oil painting by English artist Walter Dendy Sadler RBA (1854-1923) depicts an introduction between a demure young Regency lady and her potential suito...
Category

1890s Victorian Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

The Lesson - Portrait Interior - British Victorian art oil painting reading
Located in London, GB
This lovely British Victorian oil painting is by noted artist John Eaton Walker. Painted circa 1855 it is portrait in an interior of a beautiful young woman in a yellow satin dress. ...
Category

19th Century Victorian Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

1870 British Artist Henry Martin (1835-1908) Antique Genre scene O/c painting
Located in Palm Coast, FL
Up for sale is an antique original oil painting on canvas by listed British artist Henry Martin (1835-1908) depicting a genre scene. Titled "His First Admiring Words". John Henry ...
Category

19th Century Realist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil

Oil Painting by Augustus Mulready "Visitors to London"
Located in Mere, GB
Oil Painting by Augustus Mulready "Visitors to London" 1844 - 1905 Member of the Cranbrook colony painting figurative street scenes, regular exhibito royal Academy. Oil on board. Sig...
Category

Early 1900s Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Oil Painting by William Baxter Collier Fyfe "The Laird of Dumbiedyke's Courtship
Located in Mere, GB
Oil Painting by William Baxter Collier Fyfe "The Laird of Dumbiedyke's Courtship" 1836 - 1882 Painter of historical and literary genre subjects and portraits. Exhibited at the Royal ...
Category

19th Century Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Oil Painting by William Maw Egley "The Coming of Age"
By WILLIAM MAW EGLEY
Located in Mere, GB
Oil Painting by William Maw Egley "The Coming of Age" 1826- 1916 London historical genre painter. Exhibited at the R.A, B.I and R.B.A and worked with William Powell Frith. In many im...
Category

19th Century Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil