John William Haynes

19th Century genre oil painting of a young woman knitting beside a girl

C1875

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

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 ...

Jonathan Pratt British, (1835-1911) Spinning Wool Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 12 inches x 17.75 inches Size including frame: 17.25 inches x 23 inches A pleasing genre paintin...

Jane Maria Bowkett British, (1837-1891) Collecting Flowers Oil on canvas, signed with monogram Image size: 23.5 inches x 17.75 inches Size including frame: 29.25 inches x 23.5 inches A highly appealing genre painting of a young girl holding flowers by Jane Maria Bowkett. The girl is posed in a wild flower meadow in front of a wooded area and wears a white lace dress with a pink sash. On her head is a yellow straw hat decorated with white feathers and a ribbon. She is shown gripping the brim of her bonnet with one hand whilst holding a posy of flowers in the other. The girl bears a resemblance to the models featured in some of the artist's other paintings and could well have been a family member. Jane Maria Bowkett was a figure and genre painter born in Poplar, London on 17 September, 1837, the eldest child of Thomas Edward Bowkett and Jane Bowkett (nèe Watkinson). The family lived at East India Road where he father practiced as a surgeon, later becoming a doctor and was involved in the Chartist movement. Three of her sisters, Eliza Martha Bowkett (1839-1867), Jessie Undine Bowkett (1861-1886) and Leila Matilda Bowkett (1853-1924) also became artists. She attended the Government School of Design (now Royal College of Art) and in 1858 began her exhibiting career at the Society of Female Artist. In 1860, she started exhibiting at the British Institution and a year later made her debut at the Royal Academy and Royal Society of British Artists. As well as exhibiting in London, she also exhibited more widely at the Birmingham Society of Artists, Royal Scottish Academy, Bristol Academy of Art and the Brighton Art Society. Most of her paintings were genre scenes featuring woman and children in a mixture of both interior and landscape settings. Her work also included a number of beach and coastal paintings. She married the still life and landscape artist Charles Stuart on 7 February, 1862 at All Saints Church in West Ham. Although married, she continued exhibiting under her maiden name. The couple spent the first years of their married life living in Stepney Causeway where they started a family. One of their sons Charles Edward Gordon...

John Scott (1850-1918) British figure and genre painter. Oil on board in good condition, framed under glass. Measures: 12 7/8" H x 9 5/8" W. Frame: 19" H x 15 1/2" W. Original frame,...

Oil Painting by William Harris Weatherhead "The Net Mender" R.I 1843 -1903 London figure painter exhibited at the Royal Academy Birmingham Liverpool. Royal Hiberian Academy in Dublin...

This charming British Victorian genre oil painting is by noted exhibited artist John Morgan. Painted circa 1870 the composition is two young girls, one dark haired one blonde, who ar...

This fine antique oil painting depicts two ladies seated in a 19th Century style interior. In front of the woman on the right is an antique wool spinner; the woman pauses her work at...