This still life of fruit and flowers is attributed to Edwin Steele (1837-98) but it signed and dated bottom right E Steele 1899. There seem to be two other artists by the same name, whose dates are 1803-71 (primarily a landscape painter) and 1861-1933.
There are 11 works ascribed to Steele (1837-1898) on Art UK and four to Steele (1803–1871), all in collections in the Midlands.
It seems from the discussion so far that E Steele is a well-known problem name in the antiques trade. Were there three generations of the same family? Were they related to the portrait painter Christopher Steele (1733-68) or the etcher Louis J Steele?
The Dictionary of British Artists 1880-1940 (1976) by J Johnson and A Greutzner, also records several female artists of that name, including Alice A Steele, Miss E. Steele; Elizabeth A Steele, Florence H Steele, Miss FM Steele, Grace Steele, Mary Steele and S Emily Steele. Details of their addresses and exhibition histories can be added to the Art Detective discussion if anyone has this information or further suggestions?
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