John Dawson Watson

Welcome Refreshment - 19th Century Oil Painting of Georgian Gentleman in Stocks

1891

‘The Fortress of Charlemont’ by George Clarkson Stanfield (1828-1878). The painting – which depicts the 16th century stronghold built by Emperor Charles V at the French town of Giv...

‘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 ...

‘Fabbriche di Careggine’ by Edmund John Niemann (1813-1876). Fabbriche di Careggine is the name of a Italian ghost village that today lies beneath Vagli di Sotto, a man-made lake in Tuscany. Prior to its flooding in 1953 the village was home to a community of subsistence farmers who raised sheep and Garfagnana goats. The painting depicts one of these goatherds and a young woman riding out from the village at sunrise. It is not uncommon for paintings by one member of famous family of artists to be mistakenly attributed to a relative; a picture by “the Elder” is erroneously credited as being by “the Younger” and the work of one brother is confused with another, and so on. In 19th century British art...

‘Tombs of the Sultans’ by Frank Dillon R.I. R.O.I. (1823-1909). The painting – which depicts the ancient Egyptian “City of the Dead” outside the old walls of Cairo – is signed by th...

Adolf Schreyer's "Arabian Rider at Dusk" is a stunning oil painting on canvas that depicts an Arabian rider in a golden sunset. By Adolf Schreyer 8.5" x 15.5" Oil on Canvas Framed...

Frank Moss Bennett British, (1874-1952) In the Garden Oil on panel, signed & dated 1917 Image size: 11 inches x 13.5 inches Size including frame: 20 inches x 22.5 inches A charming genre scene of two gentlemen in 18th century costume in a garden by Frank Moss Bennett. The men drink wine and eat fruit at a linen covered table...

Reuben Hunt British, (1857-1938) Taking Aim Oil on canvas, signed & dated (18)84 Image size: 19.5 inches x 29.5 inches Size including frame: 25.25 inches ...

William Edward Webb British, (1862-1903) Douglas Harbour, Isle of Man Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 21.5 inches x 37.5 inches Size including frame: 33 inches x 49 inches A busy quayside painting by William Edward Webb of Douglas Harbour on the Isle of man. Fishermen in boats can be seen preparing to head ashore as other figures make their way along the quayside. William Edward Webb was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1862 to William Benjamin Webb and Ellen Butler. His father was a printer and an artist and it is highly likely he received tuition from him. Following the death of his mother, his father remarried and moved the family to Manchester sometime after 1871. By the 1880’s, Webb had started working as an artist and later set up a studio at 30 Exchange Buildings in Manchester. He began exhibiting at the Manchester City Art Gallery from 1890, where he showed more than 60 paintings during his lifetime. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy and Walker Art Gallery Liverpool from 1892. He married Clara Foster in 1899 and the couple lived at 1 Sylvan Grove, Chorlton Upon Medlock in South Manchester with their daughter Florrie. He became friends with the artist Walter Emsley (1860-1938) who also lived in Manchester. Although he spent the rest of his life in Manchester, Webb travelled throughout the UK painting coastal and marine scenes around the main ports and harbours. He spent a great deal of time in the Isle of Mann painting numerous scenes along the coast including views of Peel and Douglas Harbour, subjects he frequently returned to. Webb painted in a highly distinctive style; loose and informal but which manages to retain the sense of perspective. He struggled with ill health and depression throughout his life which sadly led to his suicide 9 November, 1903. In 1974, a retrospective exhibition was held at The Old Customs House and Old Solent House in Lymington, which brought a new found interest in his work. His paintings are now highly sought after and are represented in many collections and Museums including the Astley Hall...