Henry Sylvester Stannard (1870-1951) - Framed Watercolour Pekin Ducks

Description

A charming watercolour scene by Henry Sylvester Stannard (1870-1951), depicting a small flock of pekin duck resting on a sunny bank. In the distance a lady can be seen approaching a wooden bridge with a heavy basket in one hand. The watercolour has been signed by the artist to the lower left. Well-presented in a cream coloured mount and gilt-effect frame. On watercolour paper.

Condition

The condition is typical for a picture of this age including some discolouration.

Size

25.5 x 35cm (10" x 13.8")
Framed Size: 41.5 x 51cm (16.3" x 20.1")

Artist Biography

Henry John Sylvester Stannard (1870-1951), also referred to as Harry Stannard and Sylvester Stannard to avoid confusion with his father, was born in London and was the eldest child of Henry Stannard (1844-1920) and grandson of John Stannard (1794-1882), both well-known Bedfordshire artists.

He was educated at Bedford Modern School and the National Art Training School in South Kensington. Before his marriage, Stannard resided at Harpur Place, Bedford, and in 1894 he married Annie Sylvester Clark. The artist then moved to Flitwick and went on to achieve a reputation for painting scenes of Bedfordshire. In 1896 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Artists and his international career began after he received interest and patronage from the British Royal family due in part from the many commissions to paint their Sandringham estates.

Stannard continued to support local exhibitions including the Bedford Society of Artists and his father's exhibitions in Harpur Street. He was also a member and exhibitor at the Norfolk & Norwich Art Circle (1906-1909) and at the Ipswich Art Club 1913-1914. In 1939 he founded the Midland Sketch Club and it was at the 1950 annual exhibition of this club that he showed his final works. Sylvester was elected a member of the Royal Drawing Society in 1911, and his works were exhibited at the Abbey Gallery, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Dudley Gallery Art Society, Walker Art Gallery, London Salon, Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, New Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Cambrian Academy, Royal Hibernian Academy, and Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours.