Manner of David Cox - 1847 Watercolour Betws-y-coed, North Wales

Description

A charming watercolour scene depicting an angler by an old water mill in Betws-y-coed, North Wales. The style and subject of the piece reflects the work of David Cox (1783–1859) who was known for his studies of North Wales and frequented the area of Betws-y-coed on the verge of the Snowdonia National Park. Tiled and dated to the lower right. Inscribed verso. On paper laid to card.

Condition

There is some warping to the card, causing the edges of the piece to have a slight upturn. There is some damage to the paint on the right hand side of the piece, caused by a previous mount.

Size

29.2 x 47cm (11.5" x 18.5")
Sheet: 30.8 x 48.3cm (12.1" x 19")

Artist Biography

Cox was born at Deritend, near Birmingham. In around 1798, aged fifteen, he was apprenticed to a miniature painter named Fieldler. Following Fieldler's suicide, Cox was apprenticed around 1800 as assistant to a theatre scene-painter named De Maria. In 1804 he took work as a scene-painter with Astley's Theatre and moved to London. By 1808 he had abandoned scene-painting, taking Watercolour lessons with John Varley.
Cox exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy from 1805. His pictures never sold for high prices, and he earned his living chiefly as a drawing-master. Through his first pupil, Col. the Hon. H. Windsor (the future Earl of Plymouth), who engaged him in 1808, Cox acquired several other aristocratic pupils.


In 1810 he was elected President of the Associated Artists in Watercolour. In 1812, following the demise of the Associated Artists, he was elected an Associate of the Society of Painters in Watercolour (Old Watercolour Society). In 1839 two of Cox's watercolours were bought from the Old Watercolour Society exhibition by the Marquis of Conynham for Queen Victoria.


Around 1840 Cox took up oil painting, studying under W.J. Müller. He exhibited two oil paintings at the Royal Academy in 1844. From 1844 until 1856 he spent summers at Bettws-y-Coed, in North Wales. His health suffered following a stroke in 1853. By 1857, however, his eyesight had deteriorated. An exhibition of his work was arranged in 1858 by the Conversazione Society, Hampstead, and in 1859 a retrospective exhibition was held at the German Gallery, Bond Street, London. Cox died several months later. He was buried in Harborne, near Birmingham, where he had retired in 1841.

Location

Betws-y-Coed, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy Principal Area, Wales, United Kingdom, LL24