John William North RWS ARA (1842-1924) - 1872 Watercolour, Idyllic England

Description

Sulis Fine Art is proud to present a wonderful late 19th century landscape by the eminent watercolourist John William North. This fine watercolour captures an expansive view of a misty morning over the English countryside, completed in North's delicate yet highly detailed style. North was a prominent member of the Idyllists, and his depictions of rural landscapes combined elements of social realism and idealism. With touches of graphite used in the sky to create effect of light cloud cover and fine branches in the distant trees. With gouache detail. Wonderfully presented in a washline mount. Inscribed on the reverse 'J.W. North'. On wove laid to board. Signed and dated.

Condition

Overall the condition is very good for a painting of this age. There appears to be some very minor discolouration, most noticeable to the upper left corner. There are some small marks to the mount at the upper edge.

Size

26.3 x 44cm (10.4" x 17.3")
Sheet: 45.8 x 59.5cm (18" x 23.4")

Artist Biography

John William North ARA RWS (1842 -1924) was a British landscape painter and illustrator, a prominent member of the Idyllists. North was born in London, the son of a linen draper. When North was 14 his parents emigrated to Canada with his youngest sibling, leaving their other three children with relatives in Brixton. At the age of 16 he was to apprenticed to Josiah Whymper a noted wood engraver for whom he executed a variety of illustrations. In 1863 he relocated to Crowcombe in the Somerset Quantock Hills. Between 1862 and 1866 North worked mainly as an illustrator for the Dalziel Brothers, and rapidly gained a reputation for his sensitive interpretation of landscape subjects in the medium of black and white woodblock engraving.

He showed at the Royal Academy of Arts and was elected an Associate in 1893 and at the Royal Watercolour Society who also elected him a member. His other exhibition venues included Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Fine Art Society, Grosvenor Gallery, Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Walker Art Gallery and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. Examples of his work are in the collection Southampton Art Gallery and the Tate Gallery. He died at Old Cleeve, Somerset a poor man after a failed business venture involving the making and selling of drawing papers.