Gordon Taylor (1891 - 1971) Signed Original Framed Watercolour. Rosmead Avenue 1947, Cape Town.

 

Gordon Taylor (1891 - 1971) was one of only six Official War Artists appointed by the Secretary for Defence of South Africa in 1942.  He was also specifically appointed to make a record of marine subjects relating to the South African naval forces.  While he was, according to historian Esme Berman, one of South Africa's best known marine painters at the time,  I think his treatment of this rainy scene is also masterful.

Painted just after the second World War, the period details, including 1940s cars, are a delight. Rosmead Avenue is in Kenilworth Cape Town and is still a road lined with tall trees. It runs past Kenilworth Racecourse.

There is some interesting written detail on the back of the painting, which seems to indicate that the artist was asking 15 guineas for the painting in 1947.

According to the website www.measuringworth.com, the purchasing power of 15 guineas, or 15 pounds 15 shillings, in 1947 was the equivalent of 460 pounds today, or about R5000 !!

So the painting is very reasonably priced, all things considered. Recently a watercolour by Gordon Taylor of a Cape Town scene sold for over R2000 at Rudds Auctioneers in Cape Town.

The watercolour itself shows expert use of colour and is unfaded. It is in very good condition, apart from a brown line at the bottom which is where the previous mount was. 

The frame is clearly the 1947 original and its condition is as per the photo.  You may wish to reframe this picture.

Dimensions of the painting are 36 cm by 29 cm.

Secure packaging and tracked postage is only R90 anywhere in Southern Africa.