Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21

Antique Landscape Painting "Start of the Day" by William Shayer, Senior

About the Item

"THE START OF THE DAY" BY WILLIAM SHAYER SR. (BRITISH, 1788-1879) Executed in oil on canvas, signed lower left Item # 012PGJ11S An extremely fine painting by self-taught artist William Shayer, the Elder, the dramatic scene captures a busy coastal harbor where fishermen ready their boats for the day. Shayer's ability to work with light to dramatically emphasize characters and elements is clearly at work in this scene, the low-lying sun casting clear warm light across the water to highlight the young girl breaking from her chores to chat with an older boy. He is resting, perhaps having finished his duties as an early morning fisherman, as a basket nearby is filled with the day's catch. A terrier lies watching the two, translucent light scattered across his coat while half of his body lies hidden in opaque shadows of the nearby rock. This work was acquired at Christies in New York during their auction of American Paintings from the Mrs. George Arden Collection on May 23rd of 1991, the original labels still retained verso. It was then acquired from the gallery of Frederick W. Thom, Ltd. in Toronto, Canada and was held in a private collection until now. Housed in an early and quite fine giltwood composition frame, this is an exquisite acquisition - brilliant light, exquisite detail and a warm scene that truly convey Shayer's love of British life and countryside. Born in Southampton, William Shayer Sr. started out painting rush-bottom chairs before leaving for Guildford where he set himself up as a coach-painter. His work was well-regarded and word soon spread regarding the quality of his coats of arms, leading to his commission to paint the funeral escutcheon of the 4th Earl of Richmond. Shayer continued to paint coats of arms and heraldic devices but in his free time he turned his attention to landscape paintings. On a visit to Southampton to spend time with his family, Shayer received instruction from the seascape painter Jock Wilson (whom Shayer would soon surpass in terms of their respective ability to paint coastal and sea views). Shayer moved to Bladon Lodge in Shirley, near Southampton, an area renowned for its beautiful skies and rejected all overtures by his peers to return to London. The self-taught artist would become beloved for the great breadth of his genre compositions. While the sea and the coast were always close to his heart, he painted all aspects of British life: gameskeepers, gypsies, shepherds, hawkers, townsfolk selling at markets or resting at country inns and farmers doing chores. Shayer married Sarah Lewis Earle in 1810 and fathered William Shayer the Younger, Charles Waller Shayer and Henry Thring Shayer. He was admitted membership to the Society of British Artists in 1862 and showed 338 paintings at the Society exhibitions from 1825 to 1870. He also exhibited 6 works at London's Royal Academy and 82 paintings at the British Institution. (Source: Benezit) In essence, William Shayer painted genre compositions featuring fishermen, gamekeepers, gypsies, shepherds, hawkers and the like. He ranks alongside John Frederick Herring and Thomas Sidney Cooper in the pantheon of 19th-century English landscape art. Artist Listings & Bibliography: *E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol. XII, Gründ, 2006, p. 1095-1097 Provenance: *Christies, New York, 23 May 1991, lot 204, estimated $ 10,000-15,000, achieved $ 8,800 USD *Frederick W. Thom Ltd, Toronto, Canada Measurements: 29 1/8" H x 39 3/8" W [canvas]; 35 7/8" H x 46 5/8" W x 3" D [frame] Condition Report: Relined. Scattered touchups visible under UV. Light craquelure throughout. Cleaned in the last thirty years, still remaining in excellent presentation-ready condition - old varnish may perhaps benefit from being cleaned at some point, but we prefer to hold off as long as possible. Early frame in overall good condition with minor breaks and blemishes. About silla antiques & art Established in 2009, we have available in our 9000 square foot brick-and-mortar gallery an ever-changing selection of carefully curated and catalogued furniture, decorative arts, paintings, sculpture and estate jewelry. Our company has long specialized in sculpture circa 1860 through 1930 and as such the gallery always has a very large collection of exceptional European and American sculpture available on display.  The gallery is located at 117 W Burd Street in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and is open by appointment only. We welcome your visit and would love to meet with you at the shop. For clients located outside of the area, we are always available to discuss items by video conferencing or by phone.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 35.88 in (91.14 cm)Width: 46.6 in (118.37 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
  • Style:
    Romantic (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Unknown
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Relined, cleaned, minor inpainting under UV. Wear consistent with age and use. See condition notes in description text.
  • Seller Location:
    Shippensburg, PA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 012PGJ11S1stDibs: LU1059022564282
More From This SellerView All
  • English Antique Landscape Painting of Wooded Glade attr. William Shayer, Sr.
    By WILLIAM SHAYER SENIOR (1787-1879)
    Located in Shippensburg, PA
    WILLIAM SHAYER, THE ELDER [attributed] British, 1787-1879 Lunching in a Wooded Glade Oil on canvas unsigned Item # 309JPZ22P A gorgeous example of the idealized and romanticize...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century English Romantic Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Paint

  • Dutch Antique Painting of “Cows & Sheep in Landscape, 1852” by Albertus Verhoese
    By Albertus Verhoesen 1
    Located in Shippensburg, PA
    ALBERTUS VERHOESEN Dutch, 1806-1881 Cattle and Sheep in a Landscape (1852) Oil on panel Signed lower left "A. Verhoesen 1852", ink-stamped verso "32 SPK(?)" "G.A.S. 51" with torn ...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century Dutch Romantic Paintings

    Materials

    Paint

  • Antique Landscape Painting of Naples by George Fischhof
    Located in Shippensburg, PA
    "NO. 829 DER NEAPLE" - LANDSCAPE BY GEORGE FISCHHOF (AUSTRIAN, 1849-1914) Executed in oil on canvas, signed "A.L. Terni" lower right (known pseudonym of George Fischhof) Stretchers and frame titled verso "No. 829" and "No. 829 Der Neaple" Item # 011GSR19Q An extraordinary landscape view of Naples, identified as such on the stretchers with a title of "No. 829 Der Neaple", this intricate scene is executed in the most bright and vibrant of palettes. Brilliant blues and luscious greens dance across this quaint Italianate landscape, the wild arid landscape domesticated by a worn path flanked with walls of stone gathered from the nearby fields before a small cafe. Stone Pines and three Italian Cypress...
    Category

    20th Century Austrian Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Pine, Paint

  • Antique Landscape Painting of Provence, France by Léon Joubert
    By Leon Joubert
    Located in Shippensburg, PA
    LÉON JOUBERT French, active 1877-1900 Landscape View of Provence, France Oil on canvas signed lower left "L. Joubert", verso stamped on stretcher bars "505" Item # 109EFW24A A ...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Barbizon School Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Wood, Paint

  • “An Alpine Village” Antique Landscape Painting by Joseph Heinrich Marr, German
    By Joseph Heinrick Ludwig Marr
    Located in Shippensburg, PA
    "AN ALPINE VILLAGE" JOSEPH HEINRICH LUDWIG MARR (GERMAN, 1807-1871) Oil on panel, signed lower left "H. Marr" Item # 012PXI11A A scene full of life and romance, a picture of toil among friends and neighbors, this exquisite painting of Alpine life by Joseph Heinrich Ludwig Marr captures the very essence of Romanticism. An idyllic glimpse at the past capturing a space shared by man and beast alike, the work sought to capture a nostalgia for a time of simplicity and Community for city-dwelling patrons and clients. Some women of the village gather around the well at the center of the town to clean and dry baskets...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century German Romantic Paintings

    Materials

    Giltwood, Paint

  • "Before the Hunt" English Landscape Painting by John Syer, Jr., circa 1880s
    Located in Shippensburg, PA
    "BEFORE THE HUNT" LANDSCAPE PAINTING BY JOHN SYER, JR. (BRITISH, 1846 - 1913) In oil on canvas, signed lower right "J. Syer 188.." Item # 012IRM11P A fine open landscape depicting ...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century British Romantic Paintings

    Materials

    Paint, Canvas

You May Also Like
  • “Forest Path” 19th C. English Landscape Painting by William Shayer
    By WILLIAM SHAYER SENIOR (1787-1879)
    Located in Free Union, VA
    Painted and signed by William Shayer, Senior (1787-1879) who had a long and successful career as a painter of English countryside scenes, landscapes and seascapes, and who exhibited ...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century English Romantic Paintings

    Materials

    Giltwood

  • William I Shayer Senior, Harvest Picnic, Hst, 19th Century
    By WILLIAM SHAYER SENIOR (1787-1879)
    Located in MARSEILLE, FR
    Framed oil on canvas depicting families picnicking during the harvest period Painting signed lower left William I Shayer Senior Restorations and re-lined canvas; small chips to the...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Paintings

    Materials

    Paint

  • 19th Century Painting Attributed to William Shayer Snr. 'British', 1787-1879
    By WILLIAM SHAYER SENIOR (1787-1879)
    Located in Dublin, IE
    Artist: William Shayer Senior (British) 1787 - 1879 Medium: Oil on canvas in original gilt frame Framed Size: H: 34 in / 86.3 cm ; W: 51 in / 129.5 cm Artists Biography: William Joseph Shayer senior was a self-taught artist, who began by painting decorations on rush-bottom chairs, and moved on to painting carriages in the town of Guildford, after which he started doing heraldic painting...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century English Romantic Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Giltwood

  • Attr. William Shayer Snr.- Oil, Stable Interior
    By WILLIAM SHAYER SENIOR (1787-1879)
    Located in Pewsey, GB
    Attributed to William Shayer Snr. (1787 – 1879) A Stable interior with a horse and donkey by a briar, baskets and panniers on the floor beside them. Oil on Canvas. This painting was part of Dauntsey Estate, Wiltshire has never been at auction. 51 x 61 cms image only. William Shayer was an English landscape painter and figure painter who became prominent during the Victorian era. William Shayer was a self-taught artist, who began by painting decorations on rush-bottom chairs. He moved on to painting carriages in the town of Guildford, after which he started doing heraldic painting...
    Category

    Antique 1860s British Victorian Paintings

    Materials

    Papercord, Paint

  • William Shayer Framed Oil Painting of Stable Scene
    Located in New York, NY
    English Victorian (19th Cent) oil painting of a stable scene by William Shayer (1787-1879), signed, in a carved frame.  
    Category

    Antique 19th Century British Victorian Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas

  • 19th Century Swiss Oil Painting of the Legend of William Tell
    Located in Stamford, CT
    19th century miniature Swiss oil painting on tin depicting the Legend of William Tell. Showing William Tell on bent knee aiming the crossbow at hi...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century Swiss Romantic Paintings

    Materials

    Tin

Recently Viewed

View All