George Cole was a portrait landscape and animal painter in oils. He was the father of George Vicat Cole. Cole was born in Portsmouth to James and Elizabeth Cole. His mother died when he was nine years old. According to the artist's grandson, Rex Vicat Cole, he was apprenticed to a ship's painter in the Royal Navy dockyards at Portsmouth. He taught himself to paint pictures, at first portraits and animals; he also painted posters for Wombwell's menagerie. In 1838, Cole's painting The Farm Yard was shown at the Society of British Artists. When he was 30, he changed his focus to landscapes and received instruction from John Wilson and started exhibiting in 1840. One anecdote has him painting the portrait of a Dutch merchant in Portsmouth. After the sitter refused to pay him, saying it was a bad likeness, Cole added wings and put the painting in a shop window with the title The Flying Dutchman. The man's friends recognized him and laughed; he paid for the painting and Cole painted out the wings. His career has been regarded as a good example of the Victorian self-made man. In 1831, he married Eliza Vicat, of an old French Huguenot family. In 1852, he moved to Fulham and in 1855 to Kensington, where he lived for the rest of his life. In the mid-1860s, he purchased Coombe Lodge, a small estate in Hampshire. In a series of richly colored and detailed landscapes on large canvases executed during the 1860s and 1870s, Cole created an idealized version of the Hampshire moorlands and agricultural landscape; examples include Fern Karting, Harting Coombe (1873, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth). Cattle continued to play an important role in his compositions and he specialized in the depiction of river scenery with cows watering, including, for example, Windsor Castle. Although he exhibited 16 works at the Royal Academy, Cole's work formed a mainstay of the exhibitions of the Society of British Artists at Suffolk Street, where he exhibited 209 paintings from 1838 until he died in 1883. He was elected a member in 1850, became an auditor in 1856 and vice-president in 1867. He was also awarded a medal for a harvesting scene in 1864 by the Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts. George Cole died on 7 September 1883 at his home at 1 Kensington Crescent and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
Fine Victorian British Oil Pastoral River Landscape Figures Under Dramatic Sky
By George Cole
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Going to Market, Woking Common" Pastoral River Landscape with Figures Under a Dramatic Sky George Cole (British, 1810–1883), inscribed to the mount, seemingly unsigned Oil on canva...
Oil
$6,354Sale Price|20% Off
A Stream in the Forest - British Victorian 1859 art landscape oil painting
By George Cole
Located in Hagley, England
A fine and very detailed large Victorian British landscape painting. Painted in oil on canvas it is by listed and exhibited Victorian artist George Cole, dated 1859. A wonderful larg...
Oil
$23,144
19th Century landscape genre oil painting of farmworkers with horses & a dog
By George Cole
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
George Cole British, (1810-1883) Rick Making, Lunchtime Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1883 Image size: 23.5 inches x 35.5 inches Size including frame: 30.5 inches x 42.5 inches Prove...
Canvas, Oil
19th Century landscape genre oil painting of ploughmen with horses & a dog
By George Cole
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
George Cole British, (1810-1883) Waiting for a Treat Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1857 Image size: 19.5 inches x 29.5 inches Size including frame: 26.25 inches x 36.25 inches A cha...
Canvas, Oil
$2,191Sale Price|20% Off
H 24 in W 32 in D 1 in
Setter Dogs/ Spaniels in Sporting Landscape Original Victorian English Dog Oil
By Robert Cleminson
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"The Days Bag" by ROBERT CLEMINSON (British, 1864-1903) signed oil on canvas, framed framed: 24 x 32 inches canvas: 16 x 24 inches provenance: private co...
Oil, Canvas
$1,637Sale Price|20% Off
H 23 in W 30 in D 1 in
Sunset over Mountain Lakes Cattle Watering from Water Large Tranquil Oil Canvas
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
English School, late 20th century oil on canvas, framed framed: 23 x 30 inches canvas: 16 x 24 inches provenance: private collection, England the painting is in overall very good and...
Canvas, Oil
$9,244
H 20.25 in W 26.25 in D 2.75 in
Historical genre oil painting of gentlemen playing bowls
By Frank Moss Bennett
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
Frank Moss Bennett British, (1874-1952) The Bowling Match Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1922, with original slip Image size: 13.5 inches x 19.5 inches Size including frame: 20.25 in...
Canvas, Oil
$4,793
H 20 in W 22.5 in D 3.5 in
Historical genre oil painting of two gentlemen sat in a garden
By Frank Moss Bennett
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
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 are shown drinking wine and eating fruit at a linen covered table...
Oil, Panel
"Italianizing landscape"
By Adriaen van Diest
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Adriaen van Diest (1655-1704) – "Italianizing Landscape" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (Framed): 102 x 122 cm Dimensions (Flat): 74 x 106 cm Signature: Lower right corner Fram...
Canvas, Oil
$2,054Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.5 in W 41.5 in D 1 in
Loch Lomond Scottish Highlands Signed Oil Painting Listed British Artist
By Prudence Turner
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Highland Loch (Loch Lomond) signed by Prudence Turner, British b. 1930, signed. oil painting on canvas, framed. framed: 29.5 x 41 inches canvas: 24 x 36 inches Provenance: pri...
Canvas, Oil
$3,423
H 27 in W 37 in D 3 in
Cattle in a Landscape A Victorian 19th Century framed landscape
Located in St. Albans, GB
Alfred BENNETT Picture Size: 20 x 30" (50 x 76cm) Framed Size: 27 x 37" (69 x 95) Signed and dated 1865 Titled Staffordshire A wonderful example by the highly collected artist Alf...
Canvas, Oil
$19,857
H 38 in W 46 in D 4 in
A Horse in a Walled Courtyard Antique oil painting by F. M. Hollams
By Frances (Florence) Mabel Hollams
Located in St. Albans, GB
Frances Mabel Hollams Signed and dated 1898 Picture Size: 29 x 37" (74 x 94cm) Framed Size: 38 x 46" (97 x 117cm) Oil on canvas Most of her work are painted beautifully on panel...
Canvas, Oil
$2,950
H 20.5 in W 18.5 in
19th century English marine seascape, with fishing boats in the North Sea
Located in Woodbury, CT
William Thornley was a painter of coastal scenes whose work is very similar to Hubert and Charles Thornley, who may have been members of the same family. He painted scenes of genre, architecture, and landscapes as well. A number of the landscapes were of Belgium, Holland, Italy, and Norway. However, it is for his seascapes that he is best remembered. Thornley’s works are beautifully detailed and show a masterful understanding of the moods of both weather and sea. They are often small in size and put together with fine detail and great artistic merit. Thornley’s fishing scenes are spirited and similar in style to those of “Jock” Wilson, and are often painted in pairs. Thornley’s works have always been popular when they appear on the art market. He was believed to have first exhibited marines at the Royal Academy in 1859 from an address in Paddington, London and also at the British Institution from 1861 until it closed in 1867. He continued to exhibit at the Royal Academy until 1898. Thornley also exhibited at the Paris Salon and the Salon of French Artists, receiving an honorable mention in 1881 and a third-place medal in 1888. William Thornley also went by the names Georges William and William...
Canvas, Oil
$6,500
H 31 in W 39 in
Landscape with two horses and goats in a landscape, far and barn, English 19th C
Located in Woodbury, CT
W. S. Forest English, circa 1850 Study of Two Horses and Goats Before Farmland Oil on canvas Signed lower right Presented in its original richly carved and gilded frame A finely o...
Canvas, Oil
$28,759
H 26.25 in W 37.25 in D 3.25 in
Pair of 19th Century military oil paintings of volunteer rifle soldiers
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
**PLEASE NOTE: EACH PAINTING INCLUDING THE FRAME MEASURES 26.25 INCHES X 37.25 INCHES** Frederick Henry Howard Harris British, (1829-1901) Volunteer Rifl...
Canvas, Oil
$39,129
H 33.5 in W 23.5 in
David with the Head of Goliath, 19th Century Victorian Oil
By John Rogers Herbert
Located in London, GB
John Rogers Herbert RA 1810- 1890 Oil on canvas, dated '1850' lower right on sword strap Image size: 33 ½ x 23 ½ inches Gilt Watts frame This striking painting, depicts David as a y...
Oil
George Cole - 19th Century Oil, Bridge to the Church
By George Cole
Located in Corsham, GB
This pastoral landscape painting depicts a serene countryside scene featuring a winding river that flows beneath a stone bridge, with a rustic village nestled among rolling hills and...
Oil
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H 27 in W 37 in D 3 in
Harvesting in Surrey - Large 19th Century Oil Painting English Sunset Landscape
By George Cole
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘Harvesting in Surrey’ by George Cole RBA (1810-1883). The painting is signed by the artist and dated 1864 in which year it was exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists in London...
Oil
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H 32 in W 44 in D 4 in
The Lake District - Large 19th Century English Sunset Landscape Painting
By George Cole
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘Thirlmere and Helvellyn from Raven Crag’ by George Cole RBA (1810-1883). The painting – which depicts Thirlmere lake in Cumbria prior its damming, with the mountain of Helvellyn in ...
Oil
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H 42 in W 55 in D 4 in
Langdale, Westmorland - Huge 19th Century Oil Painting Royal Academy Landscape
By George Cole
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘Langdale, Westmorland’ by George Cole (1810-1883). This very large fine oil on canvas of a waterfall in the Lake District of England is signed and dated by the artist and was exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists in 1879. Academy Fine Paintings only offers artwork for sale in the finest condition it can be for its age, having been professionally cleaned, conserved, and re-varnished. Clients should also note that tracked and signed for international shipping is complimentary. George Cole was one of Victorian Britain’s most successful landscape painters, although the majority of his early work comprised animal portraits. Cole’s first important patron was the British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel...
Oil
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H 18 in W 18 in
19th century English landscape oil of figures on a path and sheep
By George Cole
Located in Woodbury, CT
Victorian 19th century English landscape oil of figures on a path and sheep George Cole was a painter of portraits, landscapes, and animals. Cole was self-taught and began his care...
Oil, Canvas