I WILL CLOSE EARLY FOR FIRST BIDDER. LIMITED TIME OFFER! + FREE GIFT + 2 FREE MYSTERY PAINTINGS! FOR EACH DAY THAT PASSES I WILL ADD AN ADITIONAL BONUS ITEM TO THE PACKAGE FREE OF CHARGE. HURRY BEFORE THIS DEAL IS SNAPPED UP!
Introduction
This is a 19th century english watercolour, gum arabic, gouache with scratching and stopping out on wove paper. Typical methods and mediums of most prominent english schools at the time. 56 x 36cm excl. frame. The initials and date seem to have been scraped into the image by the artist (Initials G B and dated 1830). There is also a considerable amount of highlights that have been scraped and scatched into the paper by the artist. Please read further.
Provenance
This painting once hung in the Old Richmond Hotel (Natal). According to the previous owner of the Hotel, Mr. Christopher Piperis, a wealthy Cypriot immigrant who purchased the Hotel in 1982, he remembers several paintings that formed part of the furnishings of the Hotel and were included in the purchase. Further to this fact, he could not quote on their origins. The Hotel and its surrounding property was sold to a Real Estate development company in 2004. The buildings were demolished and levelled to make way for the Richmond Shopping centre. The Company tasked to perform the demolition thought it wiser to donate all the Hotel furnishings and used building materials to anybody willing to take them. This is the long and short of how I came to posess this painting. Ofcourse there were several other paintings. However, I cannot speak on what might of become of them. It hurts to think of all the possible treasures that were lost, destroyed and given away to people who wouldn't appreciate their value as part of our towns history. Below is a scan fom a book on the town of Richmond relating to the old Richmond Hotel.
Further Information
As I have mentioned earlier, these items were being removed and literally discarded by the demolishers. The frame of this particular painting succumbed to this unfortunate mishandling and much of the original molded edges had broken off. I hope that it was not an ill advised descision, by myself, to perform its restoration in an attempt to try restore some of its former glory. See below.
Conclusion
If for nothing else, I hope you enjoyed this little story. I am uncertain who the artist might be as there were a number of important painters with such initials. Someone that comes to mind as a possibility is George Barret (1767 - 1842). The painting is masterfully executed and has a luminous glow and the imagery of the lone seated woman figure beside a fire is filled with mysticism. I would have to imagine that this is really good investment considering that this painting is from a highly sort after period and locality. As a bonus I will give away two more very old paintings absolutely free + OTHER GIFTS. I will close this auction early for the first bidder and courier shipping is also an option. Thanks.
