What periods do these paintings span?

The works stretch from the nineteenth century through Edwardian and Victorian eras into mid-century modern and post-war decades. Individual pieces reflect the shifting aesthetic preferences of their respective decades, from academic botanical precision to expressive modernism.

How should I hang a framed oil painting?

Choose a wall protected from direct sunlight and steady moisture to preserve the canvas, wood panel and pigment. Secure the frame using appropriate wall fixings that match the weight of the wood and gilt surround.

What surfaces were used by artists?

Artists painted on stretched canvas, wooden boards, heavy paper and specialised watercolour supports. Some mid-century works utilise tempera or gouache on paper rather than traditional oil mediums.

How do I identify a watercolour from an oil?

Watercolours are painted on paper under glass, showing translucent washes where the paper grain remains visible beneath the pigment. Oil paintings feature textured paint layers on canvas or board, often displaying visible brushstrokes and a heavier surface relief.