Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 19

William Christian Symons
Violinist in an Interior - British Impressionist 19thC art musical oil painting

Circa 1880

About the Item

This superb British Impressionist 19th century oil painting is by noted artist William Christian Symons. Painted circa 1880 it is a figurative interior composition of a musical event. In the foreground of a drawing room a lady sits profile to the viewer, playing the violin, music stand with music in front of her. A young man stands by her side by the door. Beyond her a woman sits at a piano against the wall. The whole scene is softly illuminated by lamp lights on the piano, lighting up the wall above where objects can be seen. The female violinist is also beautifully illuminated, the light gleaming on her violin and music . The impressionistic brushwork on her yellow blouse and the piano area are just superb. The whole painting has a wonderful warm, cozy glow and is absolutely charming. Provenance: Oxford estate. Condition. Oil on canvas, 36 inches by 28 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a complementary frame, 43 inches by 35 inches and in good condition William Christian Symons (1845-1911) was an English decorative designer, and a painter in oil and watercolour. Symons was the elder son of William Martyn Symons by his wife Elizabeth White. His father, who came originally from Trerice, St. Columb, Cornwall, carried on a printing business in Bridge Street, Vauxhall, where Christian, his second child, was born on 28 November 1845. There was one other son and two daughters. Symons was educated at a private school in Penzance until he was sent at an early age to the Lambeth Art School, then under the direction of the influential educationalist John Charles Lewis Sparkes. In 1866 he entered the Royal Academy as a student for a short while, gaining that year a silver medal in the antique school. In 1869 for the first time one of his works (a portrait of his sister) was hung at the Academy Exhibition, to which he was an intermittent contributor until the year of his death, when he was represented by an 'Interior of Downside Abbey'. His easel pictures were also shown at the New English Art Club, the Institute of Painters in Oil, and various other galleries. In 1870 he was received into the Roman Catholic church, and began his long connection with the firm of Lavers, Barraud and Westlake, for whom he designed a number of stained windows. Symons became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1881, but seceded with James McNeill Whistler in 1888. He only came personally before the public in 1899, when he acted as secretary to the celebrated dinner organised in honour of Whistler on 1 May. In 1899 he began the execution of his commission for certain mosaic decorations at Westminster Cathedral, the work by which he was chiefly known until the posthumous exhibition of his paintings and watercolours at the Goupil Gallery in 1912. He worked at Newlyn in Cornwall for some time, and though never a member of the school associated with that locality he contributed an account of it to The Art Journal in April 1890. In later life he lived almost entirely in Sussex. He died at Udimore, near Rye, where he is buried, on 4 September 1911. He married at Hampstead in 1885 Cecilia, daughter of J. L. Davenport of Wildemlow, Derby. He left nine children. two daughters and seven sons, all of whom survived him. The eldest, Mark Lancelot (1887–1935), a painter of portraits and subject pieces, exhibited occasionally at the New English Art Club. His second son, Philip, became Dom Thomas Symons ARCO (1887–1975) of Downside Abbey and later of Worth Abbey, where he is buried. One of his best oil pictures, 'The Convalescent Connoisseur', is in the Dublin Municipal Gallery of Modern Art. In the Mappin Art Gallery at Sheffield are 'In Hora Mortis' and 'Home from the War', while 'The Squaw' belongs to the Contemporary Art Society. The British Museum, the Manchester City Art Gallery, and the Brighton Art Gallery possess characteristic examples of his watercolours. His flower pieces are of particular excellence. Mr. Le Brasseur of Hampstead possesses the largest collection of his paintings. Symons was obviously influenced by Sargent and Brabazon, but preserved his own individuality and did not allow his art to be affected by his friendship for Whistler.
  • Creator:
    William Christian Symons
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1880
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 43 in (109.22 cm)Width: 35 in (88.9 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU853114438842

More From This Seller

View All
Interior with Lady Reading - Scottish Edwardian 1910 art portrait oil painting
Located in London, GB
This superb Scottish Edwardian Impressionist interior oil painting is by noted Scottish female artist Annie Rose Laing. Painted circa 1910, the composition is the interior of a room...
Category

1910s Impressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil

Woolworths, Sutton, London - British figurative shop interior art oil painting
Located in London, GB
This fantastic British 1940's figurative interior oil painting is by noted artist Leonard Fuller. Painted circa 1940, the colourful composition is looking into a busy Woolworths stor...
Category

1940s Realist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil

Cornish Family in an Interior - British 1912 Newlyn School art oil painting
By Harold Harvey
Located in London, GB
This superb British figurative interior oil painting is by noted Newlyn school artist Harold Harvey. Painted circa 1912 the composition is a Cornish family, bathed in golden light, s...
Category

1910s Realist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a Family in an Interior - British 1950's art oil painting
By Charles Ernest Cundall
Located in London, GB
This interesting British Post Impressionist figurative interior oil painting is by noted artist Charles Cundall and entitled A Conversation Piece. Painted circa 1955 the composition is the interior of a living room with a couple and their two young children, cat and dog. It is full of fascinating details such as the display of porcelain figures in the wall unit, The wonky lampshade on the piano with lovely reflections in its metal base, the slightly shabby walls, the two inviting open doors to other rooms, the way the whole family are looking at the dog (of course!) as it eyes up the tray of tea. Perhaps the dog is in fact the conversation piece of the family and life revolves around him the way the painting does. Is it the artist's family? An excellent example of Cundall's work and life with a dog. Signed lower right. Provenance. Gallery label verso. Condition. Oil on canvas, image size is 30 inches by 25 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a gallery frame, 39 inches by 34 inches framed and in good condition. Charles Cundall (1890-1971) - painter, potter and stained glass artist, born in Stratford, Lancashire. After working as a designer for Pilkington's Pottery Company under Gordon Forsyth...
Category

1950s Post-Impressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil

Christ Expelling Money Changers - British 30's surrealist art religious interior
By Augustus Lunn
Located in London, GB
Painted by "Modern British" artist Augustus Lunn this oil/tempera on board depicts Christ Expelling the Money Changers. He exhibited widely at The Cooling Galleries and The New Engl...
Category

20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Serving - British Old Master 18th century oil painting historical interior
By (Circle of) William Hogarth
Located in London, GB
A superb British Old Master oil painting which is attributed to circle of William Hogarth and was painted circa 1760. This fine oil painting is in ...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

You May Also Like

Celebration in the Vineyard, contemporary painting, Vagharshak Elibekyan .
Located in La Canada Flintridge, CA
This vibrant oil painting on canvas board by Vagharshak Elibekyan (Elibekian), measuring 8x10 inches, captures a joyful scene of dancing and celebration within a vineyard. Typical of...
Category

1980s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"What Are You Having, " Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Clyde Steadman's "What Are You Having" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts the interior of a bar with a bartender at the counter.
Category

2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Limelight" Interior Oil Painting of Bar
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Andrew Bailey's "Limelight" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts an impressionistic interior setting of a restaurant or dining hall. About the Artist: Artist Mar...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Mystery Japanese Frame" (2024) by Delton Demarest, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Delton Demarest's "Mystery Japanese Frame," completed in 2024, is an oil on panel artwork measuring 4 x 6 x 0.25 inches. This original painting featur...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Sable Poses" (2024) by Delton Demarest, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Delton Demarest's "Sable Poses," completed in 2024, is an oil on panel artwork measuring 3 x 6 x 0.25 inches. This original painting features a restin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Spring Morning
By John McLeod
Located in Denver, CO
Red draped figure look out window onto landscape
Category

2010s American Impressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Silver

Recently Viewed

View All