Watercolours

A painting method that employs pigment suspended in a water-based solution, usually applied onto paper.

Though its earliest origins are thought to be prehistoric, its history is usually dated from the Renaissance, when it was used by artists such as Albrecht Durer.

While it may be used as for the creation of preparatory studies, it is also an art form in its own right, and is a technique used for botanical illustration, wildlife illustration and topographical painting as well as traditional genres, particularly landscape.


Gaganendranath Tagore picture

Tagore ink painting brings Indian summer

13 September 2021

A mount to an ‘Indian school’ ink wash offered by Cuttlestones in Penkridge on September 2 read simply 'G Tagore'.

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Bidders show a longing for Ardizzone at Somerset sale

06 September 2021

A group of works by painter, printmaker and war artist Edward Ardizzone (1900-79) was offered at Lawrences’ latest picture sale in Crewkerne, with eight lots coming from the artist’s family.

Great Indian Fruit Bat or Flying Fox

Auctioneer turned dealer consigns major collection of Company School pictures to Sotheby’s

02 September 2021

Billed as the first dedicated auction of its kind, Sotheby’s is offering a major group of Company School paintings from the collection of American collector and art dealer Carlton C. Rochell, Jr in London on October 27.

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On the Hunt: Fry collection bidders on the artist’s trail

23 August 2021

One of the most-represented names in the Fry collection was William Henry Hunt (1790-1864).

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De Wint was a Fry favourite

23 August 2021

Works by Peter De Wint performed well at both Sotheby’s A Fine Line auction on July 7 and the online sale of Old Master and British Works on Paper from July 2-8.

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Cyril Fry collection provides a traditional feast at two salerooms

23 August 2021

British watercolours and drawings amassed by dealer came under the spotlight at two salerooms

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Fry sale at Chiswick evokes Jermyn Street memories

23 August 2021

The Fry collection sold at Chiswick Auctions in London was reminiscent of the kind of auctions the dealer himself would attend

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Portrait of a young boy by Greiffenhagen makes many multiples of estimate

16 August 2021

Semley (22% buyer’s premium) earlier this summer sold this portrait of a young boy in profile by Maurice William Greiffenhagen (1862- 1931).

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Barbara Jones puts on a jolly good show at auction

16 August 2021

A couple of Modern British works on paper drew keen attention at a recent West Sussex auction.

Peter Rindisbacher Canadian scene

Canadian topographical pictures come to the fore at Bonhams

12 August 2021

Topographical works from the early 19th century Canada will form a prominent part of Bonhams’ next Travel & Exploration sale.

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Hoffmann hare inspired by Dürer leaps to £1.02m

09 August 2021

While Christie’s had by far the top-selling Old Master drawing of the latest series (the £7.5m Leonardo da Vinci drawing of the head of a bear - see ATG No 2501), a good number of other works on paper generated better competition although sold for understandably lower prices.

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Forge and Lynch sell eyewitness watercolour of an Indian siege

19 July 2021

This late 18th century Indian watercolour view was painted in 1796 by Thomas Daniell (1769-1837).

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Salon du Dessin back in play at long last

19 July 2021

The Salon du Dessin, the Paris fair dedicated to works on paper, finally staged its 30th edition this month.

Watercolour on paper by Sam Szafran

Growing gains early on at London Art Week

12 July 2021

Exhibitors at London Art Week have reported a good flow of visitors to galleries as well as demand for the online series of talks.

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From Highlands to east London

12 July 2021

A large 18th century watercolour of a Scottish loch by William Turner of Oxford (1789-1862) emerged as a star lot at Parker Fine Art (25% buyer’s premium).

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5 Questions: Old Master portraiture dealer Elizabeth Fitzsimmons

05 July 2021

A third-generation dealer, Elizabeth Fitzsimmons specialises in Old Master portraiture and has recently launched her first website selling portraits from the 16th-20th centuries.

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Collector's guests at Georgian-themed dinners turn out for dispersal at Suffolk auction

28 June 2021

Richard Miller (1947-2018) was a man with many interests and a good eye.

Constable watercolour

‘Elegy’ from 1836 reveals original John Constable watercolours

07 June 2021

Discovered lying unrecognised on a bookcase in a Sussex cottage, a unique edition of Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard will be offered at Gorringe’s this month with a £100,000-150,000 estimate.

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Essex sale provides latest market test for Company School ornithological paintings

07 June 2021

Interest in the exquisitely detailed ornithological paintings produced by Indian artists from the late 18th to the mid-19th centuries has grown significantly over the last few decades.

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Cecil Beaton celebrated as photography show takes place

07 June 2021

With a major photography exhibition under way at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire dedicated to celebrity portraits by Cecil Beaton, two satellite shows open their doors celebrating the British photographer’s costume designs and theatrical pictures.

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