Thomas Edwin Mostyn (1864-1930) - c.1883 Watercolour River Landscape

Description

A very fine early landscape watercolour with pastel highlights by the well-listed artist Thomas Edwin Mostyn (1864-1930), depicting a river valley landscape with a church. Painted by the artist before he found recognition at the Royal Academy, it is clear there is a distinct romantic style, with a muted colour palette and delicate details, such as the reflections in the river. Signed by the artist to the lower right corner, there is also a labelled inscription to the reverse, beginning 'This picture was given as a wedding present in 1883, to William Leason Norbury and Sarah Elizabeth Heather'. Handsomely presented in a wide gilt mount and original 19th Century frame with detailed leaf mouldings, as shown. Signed and incsribed on the reverse. On wove.

Condition

In fine condition. There is some debris behind the glazing to the lower edge, and a closed tear in the lower right quadrant. There is also some discolouration and slight foxing to the sky. The frame has been professionally restored and conserved, and is in a typical condition for a painting of this age, as can be seen in the photographs provided.

Size

22.3 x 29.7cm (8.8" x 11.7")
Framed Size: 44.3 x 52.7cm (17.4" x 20.7")

Artist Biography

Thomas Edwin Mostyn was born in Liverpool in 1864 to the artist Edwin Mostyn, and raised in Manchester. He studied at the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts. He had his first local exhibition in 1880, and was showing at the Royal Academy in London by the age of 29. He gained a high level of interest for his romantic garden scenes, although his style varied dramatically throughout his artistic career. In 1893, he enrolled at the Herkomer Art School where he developed a broad expressive technique.

Mostyn moved from London to Devon in 1918, making a change both in his subject matter and style. His genre subjects became less contemporary and he started to paint imaginative and romantic landscapes. His technique also changed and he worked increasingly with a palette knife. Mostyn staged a series of five exhibitions at the Fine Art Society, London in 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, and 1925 and also exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, who elected him a member in 1917. Other venues included the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, the Cooling Galleries, Dowdeswell and Dowdeswell, the Grosvenor Gallery, the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Royal West of England Academy. Tom Mostyn died at Paignton and a major retrospective exhibition of his work was held at the Cooling Galleries in 1933. Artist Marjorie Mostyn was his daughter.

Examples of his work can be found in the collections of Manchester City Galleries, National Museums Liverpool, the National Museum of Wales and the Royal West of England Academy, as well as many others.