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Myles Birket Foster Art

British, 1825-1899

Myles Birket Foster was a popular English illustrator, watercolor artist and engraver in the Victorian period. His name is also to be found as Myles Birkett Foster. Foster was born in North Shields, England of a primarily Quaker family, but his family moved south to London in 1830, where his father founded M. B. Foster & sons — a successful beer-bottling company. He was schooled at Hitchin, Hertfordshire and on leaving, he initially went into his father's business. However, noticing his talent for art, his father secured an apprenticeship with the notable wood engraver, Ebenezer Landells, where he worked on illustrations for Punch magazine and the Illustrated London News. On leaving Landells' employ, he continued to produce work for the Illustrated London News and the Illustrated London Almanack. He also found work as a book illustrator and, during the 1850s, trained himself to paint in watercolors. His illustrations of Longfellow’s Evangeline and books of poetry by other contemporaries were a great success, and he quickly became a successful artist in watercolors. Foster became an Associate of the "Old" Watercolor Society (Later the Royal Watercolor Society) in 1860 and exhibited some 400 of his paintings at the Royal Academy of Arts for over more than two decades. He traveled widely, painting the countryside around Scotland, the Rhine Valley, the Swiss lakes and in Italy, especially Venice. In 1863, he moved to Witley, near Godalming in Surrey, where he had a house named The Hill built. Being friendly with Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, he had the house decorated and furnished in contemporary style, with tiles and paintings by Burne-Jones and Morris' firm, Morris and Company. The same year, he published a volume of English Landscapes, with text by Tom Taylor. Although he had painted great numbers of landscape scenes from Scotland to the Mediterranean, it was after moving to Witley that Birket Foster produced the works for which he is best known—a sentimentalized view of the contemporary English countryside, particularly in the West Surrey area. Although criticized for their idealized view of rural life, they were recognized for their detail and execution. Foster's work (along with that of other artists) was used by Cadbury, the chocolate manufacturer, on the cover of their chocolate boxes from the 1860s onwards. He became ill in 1893 and moved to Weybridge. He continued painting but died on 27th March 1899. His obituary in The Times referred to him as "certainly the most popular watercolor artist of our time." He is buried at All Saints' Church in Witley.

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Artist: Myles Birket Foster
“Tending the Sheep”
By Myles Birket Foster
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautifully executed original hand colored lithograph using gouache and watercolor. Scene in Surrey, England. Signedxwith monogram in plate lower left, Myles Birket Foster. Published by M. H. Long. Condition is very good. In original 2 inch wide birdseye maple antique frame with thick museum mat with gold innner edge. Overall 22 by 26 inches. Biography Myles Birket Foster (4 February 1825 – 27 March 1899) was a popular English illustrator, watercolour artist and engraver in the Victorian period. His name is also to be found as Myles Birkett Foster. Life and work Foster was born in North Shields, England of a primarily Quaker family, but his family moved south to London in 1830, where his father founded M. B. Foster & sons — a successful beer-bottling company. He was schooled at Hitchin, Hertfordshire and on leaving initially went into his father's business. However, noticing his talent for art, his father secured an apprenticeship with the notable wood engraver, Ebenezer Landells, where he worked on illustrations for Punch magazine and the Illustrated London News. On leaving Landells' employ, he continued to produce work for the Illustrated London News and the Illustrated London Almanack. He also found work as a book illustrator and, during the 1850s, trained himself to paint in watercolours. His illustrations of Longfellow’s Evangeline and books of poetry by other contemporaries were a great success, and he quickly became a successful artist in watercolours. Birket Foster became an Associate of the "Old" Watercolour Society (Later the Royal Watercolour Society) in 1860 and exhibited some 400 of his paintings at the Royal Academy over more than 2 decades. Birket Foster travelled widely, painting the countryside around Scotland, the Rhine Valley, the Swiss lakes and in Italy, especially Venice. In 1863 he moved to Witley, near Godalming in Surrey where he had a house ("The Hill") built. Being friendly with Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, he had the house decorated and furnished in contemporary style, with tiles and paintings by Burne-Jones and Morris' firm, Morris and Company. The same year he published a volume of "English Landscapes," with text by Tom Taylor...
Category

1880s Impressionist Myles Birket Foster Art

Materials

Lithograph, Watercolor, Gouache

“Flower Picking”
By Myles Birket Foster
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautifully executed original hand colored lithograph using gouache and watercolor. Scene in Surrey, England. Signedxwith monogram in plate lower left, Myles Birket Foster. Published by M. H. Long. Condition is very good. In original 2 inch wide birdseye maple antique frame with thick museum mat with gold innner edge. Overall 22 by 26 inches. Biography Myles Birket Foster (4 February 1825 – 27 March 1899) was a popular English illustrator, watercolour artist and engraver in the Victorian period. His name is also to be found as Myles Birkett Foster. Life and work Foster was born in North Shields, England of a primarily Quaker family, but his family moved south to London in 1830, where his father founded M. B. Foster & sons — a successful beer-bottling company. He was schooled at Hitchin, Hertfordshire and on leaving initially went into his father's business. However, noticing his talent for art, his father secured an apprenticeship with the notable wood engraver, Ebenezer Landells, where he worked on illustrations for Punch magazine and the Illustrated London News. On leaving Landells' employ, he continued to produce work for the Illustrated London News and the Illustrated London Almanack. He also found work as a book illustrator and, during the 1850s, trained himself to paint in watercolours. His illustrations of Longfellow’s Evangeline and books of poetry by other contemporaries were a great success, and he quickly became a successful artist in watercolours. Birket Foster became an Associate of the "Old" Watercolour Society (Later the Royal Watercolour Society) in 1860 and exhibited some 400 of his paintings at the Royal Academy over more than 2 decades. Birket Foster travelled widely, painting the countryside around Scotland, the Rhine Valley, the Swiss lakes and in Italy, especially Venice. In 1863 he moved to Witley, near Godalming in Surrey where he had a house ("The Hill") built. Being friendly with Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, he had the house decorated and furnished in contemporary style, with tiles and paintings by Burne-Jones and Morris' firm, Morris and Company. The same year he published a volume of "English Landscapes," with text by Tom Taylor...
Category

1880s Impressionist Myles Birket Foster Art

Materials

Lithograph, Watercolor, Gouache

Style of Myles Birket Foster- Early 20th Century Watercolour, The Egg Snatchers
By Myles Birket Foster
Located in Corsham, GB
A charming watercolour study in the style of British artist Myles Birket Foster RWS. The scene depicts a group of children snatching eggs from a wild birds nest. The watercolour has ...
Category

20th Century Myles Birket Foster Art

Materials

Watercolor

Follower of Myles Birket Foster - Late 19th Century Watercolour, By the River
By Myles Birket Foster
Located in Corsham, GB
This delightful scene depicts two young girls playing by a river. One girl leans towards a water jug while the other prods the water with a stick. The artist captures the innocence o...
Category

Late 19th Century Myles Birket Foster Art

Materials

Watercolor

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Original Myles Birket Foster RWS Painting of Children Fishing Creekside
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Myles Birket Foster RWS (British, 1825-1899) Untitled (Children Fishing), 19th Century Oil on board Sight: 7 3/4 x 10 5/8 Framed: 13 5/8 x 15 5/8 x 1 3/8 in. Myles Birket Foster (4 February 1825 - 27 March 1899) was a popular English illustrator, watercolour artist and engraver in the Victorian period. His name is also to be found as Myles Birkett Foster. Foster was born in North Shields, England of a primarily Quaker family, but his family moved south to London in 1830, where his father founded M. B. Foster & sons - a successful beer-bottling company. He was schooled at Hitchin, Hertfordshire, and on leaving initially went into his father's business. However, noticing his talent for art, his father secured an apprenticeship with the notable wood engraver, Ebenezer Landells, where he worked on illustrations for Punch magazine and the Illustrated London News. On leaving Landells' employ, he continued to produce work for the Illustrated London News and The Illustrated London Almanack. He also found work as a book illustrator and, during the 1850s, trained himself to paint in watercolours. His illustrations of Longfellow's Evangeline and books of poetry by other contemporaries were a great success, and he quickly became a successful artist in watercolours. Birket Foster became an Associate of the "Old" Watercolour Society (Later the Royal Watercolour Society) in 1860 and exhibited some 400 of his paintings at the Royal Academy over more than two decades. Birket Foster traveled widely, painting the countryside around Scotland, the Rhine Valley, the Swiss lakes and in Italy, especially Venice. In 1863 he moved to Witley, near Godalming in Surrey where he had a house ("The Hill") built. Being friendly with Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, he had the house decorated and furnished in contemporary style, with tiles and paintings by Burne-Jones and Morris' firm, Morris and Company...
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Attributed to Myles Birket Foster - 19th Century English Oil, Girls and a Dog
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Canvas, Oil

Myles Birket Foster art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Myles Birket Foster art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Myles Birket Foster in paint, watercolor, gouache and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 19th century and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Myles Birket Foster art, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Paul Lecomte, Max Liebermann, and Albert de Belleroche. Myles Birket Foster art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $340 and tops out at $11,279, while the average work can sell for $875.

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