Orlando Norie (1832-1901) - Late 19th Century Watercolour The Dancing Soldiers

Description

A very fine and meticulously detailed watercolour by the listed British military artist Orlando Norie (1832-1901). Norie has composed this charming scene in his typically vivid realist style. An uncommon work in his oeuvre, two soldiers in full dress are depicted leaping about to music, with two women in long skirts. The pattern and shadowing in the clothes contrast with the lack of setting, focussing the viewer's eye in this remarkable miniature work. On card. Signed.

Condition

In very good condition overall, for a picture of this age. There is some even discolouration to the page, and a small scuff to the upper left corner.

Size

9.1 x 11.6cm (3.6" x 4.6")
Sheet: 11.5 x 15cm (4.5" x 5.9")

Artist Biography

Orlando Norie (1832-1901) was from a family of Scottish descent. Born in Bruges, Belgium, he spent most of his working life in Dunkirk where he painted many scenes, primarily in watercolours. An artist of military subjects, he was one of the most prolific painters of the British army in the 19th century. It has been estimated that Norie alone painted well over 5,000 pictures. His work was first recognised in the autumn of 1854 when his print of the Battle of the Alma was advertised to be followed by prints of the Battle of Inkerman and the Battle of Balaclava, all for art dealers Ackermann's.

Norie was viewed as the natural successor to Henry Martens, and Ackermann's were so pleased with his work that they profiled him in exhibitions, one being Ackermans gave him a solo exhibition in 1873 to showcase his pictures of the recent Autumn Manoeuvres held around Aldershot in September and October 1871. A watercolour painting depicting the Battle of Fuentes d’Onoro of 5 May 1811 is in the collection of the Royal Military College of Canada. His grave is in the old cemetery of the town adjacent to the Commonwealth War cemetery near Loos in northern France. National Museums Liverpool, specifically the Merseyside Maritime Museum, has a fine example of his painting and he is known to have exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts, Manchester Academy of Fine Arts and at the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours.