Activity in a Victorian Slum, Circa 1890: Stunning Large and Modern British Oil on Canvas

19th century

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

A fascinating and rare 19th Century depiction of life in a Victorian slum: washing is hanging on wooden poles like banners from the windows, a toddler is being bathed in the middle of the street, women are scurrying, and children play.

Without piety or sentimentality, but with rigorous realism, this is an extraordinarily modern painting , both in terms of composition and colour. I love the restrained palette of icy blues and greys and the occasional jolt of bright red.

Dating from circa 1890, our oil is painted on a canvas from colour merchants G Rowney, bearing on the verso a stamp "G ROWNEY & CO. LONDON, W. QUALITY B. By 1877, Rowney’s were grading canvas as quality A, B or C in their trade catalogues. In 1913, ‘B’ quality was described as a good quality British canvas with a light back.

The painting is indistinctly monogrammed at the lower left, and I have not been able to identify the artist. Interestingly, it was acquired in the Loire Valley in France. Measuring 77 x 64 cm, the overall framed size in a more recent frame by French master framers Delf is 88 x 75 cm.

Physical Dimensions

Height

77cm (30.31")

Width

64cm (25.20")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA872283

Dealers Notes

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.

Description

“

Without piety or sentimentality, but with rigorous realism, this is an extraordinarily modern painting , both in terms of composition and colour.

Skippings Fine Arts

I love the restrained palette of icy blues and greys and the occasional jolt of bright red.

fig 1. Activity in a Victorian slum, circa 1890: stunning large and modern British oil on canvas — fig 1. Activity in a Victorian Slum, Circa 1890: Stunning Large and Modern British Oil on Canvas

Dating from circa 1890, our oil is painted on a canvas from colour merchants G Rowney, bearing on the verso a stamp "G ROWNEY & CO. LONDON, W. QUALITY B. By 1877, Rowney’s were grading canvas as quality A, B or C in their trade catalogues. In 1913, ‘B’ quality was described as a good quality British canvas with a light back.

fig 2. Activity in a Victorian slum, circa 1890: stunning large and modern British oil on canvas — fig 2. Activity in a Victorian Slum, Circa 1890: Stunning Large and Modern British Oil on Canvas

The painting is indistinctly monogrammed at the lower left, and I have not been able to identify the artist. Interestingly, it was acquired in the Loire Valley in France. Measuring 77 x 64 cm, the overall framed size in a more recent frame by French master framers Delf is 88 x 75 cm.