A sun-drenched work by British Impressionist painter Dorothea Sharp is coming up for auction at Tennants Auctioneers in the British, European and Sporting Art Sale on 16th November with an estimate of £35,000-45,000 (all figures exclude buyer’s premium). The work, Paddling in the Shallows, probably Bosham, is similar in composition and theme to works held in the Mansion House, Cardiff, and Gallery Oldham.
Dorothea Sharp (1874-1955) captured the joys of childhood, and the beauty of everyday moments in her vibrant coastal scenes. Having studied at Richmond Art School and the Regent Street Polytechnic, she travelled around Europe, and a spell in Paris had an indelible effect on her art when she fell under the influence of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters in the city. Focussing on painting en plein air, Sharp continued to paint in her spontaneous, impressionistic style for the rest of her illustrious career.
Two works by Louis H Grimshaw (1870-1943) are also on offer in the sale, consigned from a private collection. “An Autumn Sunset” is offered with an estimate of £8,000-12,000, and “Moonrise on the Tyne” with an estimate of £12,000-18,000. The sold on the acclaimed artist John Atkinson Grimshaw, Leeds-born Louis Grimshaw followed in his father’s footsteps to create beautifully detailed street scenes, often moonlit. Indeed, the father and son would often collaborate, with Louis painting the figures into his father’s street scenes. However, Louis Grimshaw would later abandon the unpredictable life of an artist to become a cartographer for the Manchester Guardian in 1905, leaving behind a relatively small number of high-quality works.
Notable works amongst the genre pieces in the sale include ‘The Toy Boat’ by Giovanni Battista Torriglia (1858-1937) (estimate: £12,000-18,000) and ‘Failing Memories’ by Charles Spencelayh (1865-1958). One of the more unusual lots in the sale is a pair of 19th century Chinese School paintings; ‘Ladies in a garden’ and ‘Ladies at leisure before a lake’ will be offered with an estimate of £700-1,000. An interesting group of figural works are led by “A Male Figure” attributed to York-born artist William Etty (1787-1849), with provenance from a sale at Christie, Manson and Woods in 1884 (estimate: £2,000-3,000). Further portraits include a Portrait of a Lady by the Circle of Nicolaes Maes (1634-1633) (estimate: £1,500-2,500), and a 17th/18th century Dutch School Portrait of a Lady with a wide ruff and pearl earring (estimate: £300-500).
Amongst the Sporting Art in the sale is ‘Horses in a field before an extensive landscape’ by Robert Nightingale (1815-1895) (estimate: £3,000-5,000), Two Foals standing in a Summer landscape’ by Wright Barker (1864-1941) (estimate: £2,000-2,500), and “Hounds and Game” by John Sargent Noble (1848-1896) (estimate: £800-1,200).
The sale will go on view to the public from Sunday 10th November, alongside The Selected Contents of Bell Hall, Naburn, York, which will also offer a broad range of traditional and contemporary paintings.
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