Francis Nicholson (1753-1844) - 1820 Watercolour Rydal Hall

Description

A view towards Rydal Hall in Westmorland, now Cumbria, by the prominent artist and 'father of watercolour painting' Francis Nicholson (1753-1844). Presented in a dark and sage green double mount and a distressed gilt-effect wooden frame. Signed and dated to the lower edge. The location and name and dates of the artist are printed at the lower edge of the mount. Original label cut and affixed verso. On watercolour paper.

Condition

There is some mild discolouration and cockling to the substrate. There are three dark marks to the right-hand portion of sky. Overall well-presented and in good condition.

Size

27.6 x 40.1cm (10.9" x 15.8")
Framed Size: 51.9 x 63.8cm (20.4" x 25.1")

Artist Biography

Francis Nicholson (1753-1844) was a British artist. He worked in watercolour and oil and is mainly known as a landscape artist. Nicholson was born in Pickering, North Yorkshire and studied with a local artist in Scarborough, before beginning his career in his native Pickering, producing sporting pictures and portraits for a variety of Yorkshire patrons. By the mid-1780s he was also making paintings of country houses, leading him to concentrate on landscapes in watercolour. From 1789, he contributed views of both Yorkshire and Scotland to exhibitions at the Royal Academy. He also supplied topographical views for the Copper Plate Magazine. He contributed to 'Views of England', in collaboration with the engraver Francis Jukes, to 'The Beauties of England and Wales', Author: Britton, John & Edward Wedlake Brayley - A book published in 18 volumes from 1801 to 1815.

Although his market increasingly became London-based, Nicholson continued to live in Yorkshire - at Whitby, Knaresborough and Ripon. He did not move to London until about 1803. In 1804, he became a founder-member of the Society of Painters in Watercolours and was a regular and prolific contributor to its exhibitions. He wrote a handbook, 'The practice of drawing and painting landscape from nature, in water colours', which was published in 1820. It sold out and a second edition followed in 1823. His c.1837 self-portrait is in the National Portrait Gallery. He is known as the Father of watercolour painting and also as an early pioneer of lithography, and was much admired by Turner. In October 2012 Pickering and District Civic Society erected a Blue Plaque in his memory on 3 Hungate Pickering. His daughter Marianne Croker was an artist, poet and author, and married Thomas Crofton Croker.