Framed watercolour by Herbert Menzies MarshallTranquil river scene with woodland and cottageSigned and dated 1879Dimensions 39cm x 27.5cmFramed dimensions 60cm x 50cmIn excellent condition with minor discolouring and possible slight fading of coloursOur ref: 174 Herbert Menzies Marshall, VPRWS RE ROI (1841-1913)Herbert Menzies Marshall was one of the most atmospheric of the Edwardian painters of urban topography.Herbert Menzies Marshall was born on 1 August 1841, the youngest son of Thomas Horncastle Marshall, barrister-by-law, and later Judge of the Leeds County Court. The family lived at 33 Park Square, Leeds, and Outwood Hall, near Wakefield.Marshall was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, playing first-class cricket for the university, and graduating in 1864 with a second-class degree in the natural science tripos. In the same year, he went to Paris for the purpose of studying architecture, and entered the atelier of Charles-Auguste Questel. On his return from Paris in 1867, he became a student of the Royal Academy Schools, and in the following year received the Traveling Studentship for Architecture. Apparently, �the result of traveling in Italy and of constant sketching under a bright sun was to weaken his eyesight so much that he was obliged to give up all work for two years, and especially any architectural drawing� (Plarr 1895, page 570).On his return to England, he lived close to the Royal Academy at 22 Old Burlington Street, with the architect, Robert Kerr, and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, though never practised as an architect, and retired in 1871.Marshall�s �accident induced him to turn his attention to water-colour painting, as being less trying to the eyes, and in 1871 he exhibited his first drawing at the Dudley Gallery� (Plarr 1895, loc cit). He then worked mainly in London, producing series of topographical watercolours for exhib...