Affordable art: Five paintings of scenic holiday locations for under £1500
25 August 2020 At this time of year, many people are thinking about tranquil landscapes or sunny beaches. Here we indulge in a bit of escapism and pick out five pictures of scenic locations offered or sold recently at auctions on the saleroom for under £1500.
‘Lakeside cottages with figures’ by Alexander Williams – estimated at €600-1000 at Adam’s.
1. West of Ireland lakes
Irish landscape and marine painter Alexander Williams (1846-1930) was a man of many talents. As well as a talented and largely self-taught artist, he was also a successful taxidermist and professional singer.
Originally from Co. Louth, he started exhibiting works at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1870 and later moved to Achill Island in 1899, the landscape of which featured prominently in his work.
Offered at Adam’s of Dublin on September 2 is a tranquil lakeside view of the West of Ireland. Measuring 11.5 x 17.25in (29 x 44cm), the oil on board also depicts cottages to the bank as well as a few small figures.
It is estimated at €600-1000.
View the catalogue entry for this Alexander Williams painting on thesaleroom.com.
2. Cornish coast
‘Port scene of Looe in Cornwall’ by James Lawrence Isherwood – estimated at £200-300 at Hutchinson Scott.
Wigan artist James Lawrence Isherwood (1917-89) may be best known for urban views of his native area as well as London, but he also produced a significant body of work depicting scenes in the South West of England.
One of them is being offered at Hutchinson Scott in Skipton, North Yorkshire on September 3-5.
The 11.5 x 17.25in (30 x 44cm) oil on canvas shows port of Looe in Cornwall and is signed and dated 1960.
It is estimated at £200-300.
View the catalogue entry for this James Lawrence Isherwood painting on thesaleroom.com.
3. Greek beach
‘Beach Boys, Greece, 1980’ by John Miller – £1000 at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.
The 20th century painter John Miller (1931-2002), best known for his idyllic pared-down depictions of glowing Cornish beaches and deep blue skies, adopted a variety of styles and subjects throughout his career.
This 11 x 17in (28 x 44cm) scene in oils, Beach Boys, Greece, 1980, improved on pre-sale hopes at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter on July 21 and sold for £1000.
4. Oxford canal
A view of a canal in Oxford by Bernard Dunstan – £1000 at Lawrences of Crewkerne.
This signed 20 x 2ft 5in (50 x 74cm) oil of houses by a canal in Oxford was one of Bernard Dunstan’s (1920-2017) first exhibits at The Royal Academy. At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving Royal Academician.
It was purchased from the RA by Sir Henry Rushbury in 1946 for his own private collection and cropped up at Lawrences of Crewkerne in Somerset on July 24.
It sold for £1000.
5. Broad Devon landscape
A landscape by William Wells – £1400 at Chorley’s.
One of Scottish art’s more obscure names, William Wells (1872-1923) studied at the Slade and under Bouguereau and Ferrier in Paris before settling at Appledore, north Devon, where he painted rural scenes until his death aged 51.
His favourite compositional motif was a peasant girl set against an open landscape and a low skyline, typified by this 11½ x 17½in (29.5 x 44.5cm) oil on board which nearly doubled hopes when it sold for £1400 at Chorley’s in Prinknash Abbey Park on July 22.
