Joseph Thors

19th Century landscape oil painting of a windmill by a river

C1870

Robert John Hammond British, (1853-1911) Fishing by the Lock Gate Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1893 Image size: 19.5 inches x 14.5 inches Size including frame: 25.75 inches x 20.75 inches A picturesque painting by Robert John Hammond of three figures next to a river lock. One of the figures can be seen fishing on the bank as the others take shade under the trees. Robert John Hammond was a landscape painter born in Blackfriars, London in 1853. By the time he was 18 he had moved to Sutton Coldfield where he initially became an apprentice watchmaker before becoming a full time artist. In 1871, he married Lucy Banner, the sister of the artist Alfred Banner...

William Mellor British, (1851-1931) Rydal Lake, Westmorland Oil on canvas, signed & further inscribed verso Image size: 23.5 inches x 35.5 inches Size including frame: 34.25 inches x 46.25 inches William Mellor was a landscape painter who was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire in 1851, the son of Joseph Mellor, an artist and Mary Mellor. Initially, he was employed as a loom turner in the weaving industry before becoming a professional artist. He would have received tuition from his father who clearly influenced his style and subject matter. In 1876, he married Mary Elizabeth Watson...

Richard Ball Spencer British, (1812-1897) The Perthshire off Ailsa Craig Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 22.25 inches x 36.25 inches Size including frame: 31 inches x 45 inches This painting by Richard Ball Spencer is of the Perthshire, a three-masted barque sailing off Ailsa Craig. The Perthshire was built in Dundee in 1874 and was owned by Thomas Law of 123 Hope Street, Glasgow. The red ensign flying on the mizzenmast indicates it was a British merchant or passenger ship. The owner may well have commissioned the painting to commemorate its maiden voyage. Ailsa Craig, pictured to the far left, is a small uninhabited island off the west mainland of Scotland in the outer Firth of Clyde. The island is made up of volcanic rock which was quarried in the past and is now only used as a source of microgranite to make curling stones. The island is known by a number of different names including A' Chreag (the rock) and Creag Alasdair (Alasdair's rock). It was also sometimes referred to in the past as ‘Paddy’s Milestone’ as it marked the halfway of the sea journey Belfast to Glasgow made by Irish Emigrants seeking work. Richard Ball Spencer was born in London’s East End on 11 November, 1812 to John and Elizabeth Ball. His father was a grocer and the family lived at 106 York Road in Mile End. Both Richard and his brother Thomas were given their mother’s maiden name as their middle names. By 1841, he had established himself as a marine painter specialising in ship portraits and was influenced by artists such as Joseph Heard (1799-1859), William John Huggins (1781-1845) and Robert Salmon (c1775-1845). He spent his time travelling to trading ports around the British coast as well as the nearby London docks of Brunswick Wharf and the Isle of...

Arthur Walker Redgate British, (1860-1906) A Wayside Chat Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 13.5 inches x 20.5 inches Size including frame: 19.5...