Arthur Elsley

"I 'se Biggest"

[Ca.1892(3)]

Arthur Elsley's painting entitled I'se Biggest (1892) was reproduced as a print, it became so popular that it had to be re-engraved. That scene of a little girl measuring her height against that of a St. Bernard dog was described as "one of those simple and unaffected pictures which readily lend themselves to reproduction and has so much nature and so admirable a touch of humour in it that no doubt a great number of those who admire it at Burlington House will be delighted to have an opportunity of hanging a version of it on their walls."

Though he started his career as an animal painter, Elsley soon expanded his repertoire to include tender portraits that combined children with animals. Indeed, his portrayal of animals as sentient beings who relate to children elevated them to a place of pride in the family, as opposed to their more accepted role as working or hunting animals. Elsley was very enthusiastic about these subjects, for which he quickly became famous. He was quoted in the December 1904 London Magazine saying: "Why shouldn't I join together children and dogs?" The interviewer further noted Elsley's passionate approach to his subjects: "[Elsley] has an intense love for children. He has often been heard to say it would be impossible to paint children if the artist did not love them".

Arthur John Elsley 1860-1952
Born in 1860, the son of a coachman, Arthur John Elsley joined the South Kensington School of Art at the age of fourteen. He submitted his first exhibit to the Royal Academy in 1878 and continued to paint thereafter until 1917. Well-acquainted with his contemporaries Frederick Morgan and Charles Burton Barber, Elsley quickly rose to fame as one of the most beloved and commercially sought after "chocolate box" artists of late Victorian England.
His depiction of children and animals, and idealized portrayal of their world appealed to the middle and upper classes of society. In light of the high rate of infant and child mortality in Victorian England at the time, this genre became enormously popular and artists like Elsley could command high sums for their work. It comes as no surprise that the commercial success of Elsley's paintings was also due in grand part to the wide diffusion of his work in the public realm. It is fair to say that his cozy interpretations of family life and the often humorous interactions of children and animals became associated with 'popular culture' of the day. His paintings were routinely reproduced for use in color calendars published by the American firm Thomas D. Murphy Company, soap advertisements, as well as for the cover of publications such as Bibby's Quarterly. As with the work of his contemporary Frederick Morgan with whom Elsley shared a studio for a time, the use of particularly bright colors is a defining characteristic central to his artistic technique. It is known that in preparation for compositions that depict characters in an outdoor setting, Elsley actually painted his figures in an indoor studio and was known to borrow scenic countryside panoramas from photographs in Country Life Magazine to work up his backgrounds.

Chromolithograph/Colour Lithograph. Deacidified. Period gilt-wood and plaster frame.
20 x14" Frame: 22 1/2 x 16 1/2"
Ref. NP3/ADN/ v.anda > RDN     PRICE CODE B     Click here for price code guide    

Arthur Elsley

A Young Briton

1895

An attractive  period  chromolithograph after the painting  by Arthur Elsley, published as the Illustrated London News Christmas number 1895.  A copy of the 'Broad Arrow' Naval & Military Gazette rests across the knees of an elderly Chelsea pensioner  as he shows his sword to his young grandson, a curious  scots terrier by their side looks on. The original painting is housed in The Royal Hospital Chelsea. Backed to linen, some cracking, condition and staining issues.  Sold as is.

Chromolithograph/Colour Lithograph backed to linen, some  cracking and condition issues.
24 3/4 x 17 3/8" inc. Letters.
Ref. 111 PD14 /LN/ dn.ande > DLN  PRICE CODE A SOLD   Click here for price code guide

Frederick Morgan  

Sweethearts

1905

A beautifully printed 1905 chromolithograph published by Pears Soap after the painting by F. W. Morgan (1856-1927) being one of three plates originally presented with Pears Annual 1905. A young boy is depicted presenting a handful of freshly picked ripe strawberries to a blond haired young girl, who wears a white dress and amber necklace whilst he accompanies her wild flower picking. This is one of two versions of 'Sweethearts' that Morgan painted. Some early tears have been repaired.

Frederick Morgan (1856-1927) was one of the greatest British genre painters of his time specializing in happy childhood scenes.   His works were very popular as attested by the large number of reproductions created and sold during his lifetime.
Frederick Morgan was born in London, England in 1847.  His father John Morgan (1823-1886) was a genre artist. Fred worked for three years as a portrait artist in Aylesbury and was engaged by a photographic firm to paint family portraits for those clients who were not satisfied with photographs only. In addition to portraits, he painted other subjects that included rustic idealized peasants and domestic genre mostly of happy childhood scenes.  Starting 1874 Messers Agnew and Sons purchased all his work for a number of years. Fred’s popularity increased, as did the demand for his paintings of children scenes.   Although he was an excellent child portraitist, he “had a problem painting animals,” As a result, he cooperated with other artists for his images that depicted children with their pets.  Among them were the artist Allen Sealey (1850-1927) who specialized in canine portraits, and the genre artist Arthur J. Elsley (1860- 1952).  The latter took on that role when he moved into Fred’s studio at 7 North Bank, St, John’s Wood in 1889. Three of these photogravures of one of his best known paintings, entitled QueenAlexandra,Her Grandchildren and Dogs (1902, dogs painted by T. Blinks) were hung in Buckingham Palace.

Fred Morgan married three times. During his lifetime Fred exhibited more than two hundred works at various exhibitions.  These included the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of Oil Painters (of which he was a founding member), Burlington House, and the Manchester City Art Gallery.

His works can be seen in the following museums and galleries in the United Kingdom: Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Lancashire; Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum, Burnley, Lancashire; City Art Gallery, Leeds; Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool; Russell-Cotes Museum, Bournemouth; and Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight.

Chromolithograph/Colour Lithograph, some  cracking and condition issues.

 24 1/4 x 18 inc. Letters
 Ref. 118 EJ1 /VL/ dd.ande >ANN PRICE CODE B SOLD   Click here for price code guide

 

Albert  W. Holden

Saluting the Admiral

1905

A beautifully printed 1905 chromolithograph published by Pears Soap after the painting by A. W. Holden (1848-1932) being one of three plates originally presented with Pears Annual 1905. Depicts a retired periwigged and tricorne hatted naval officer saluting a bust of Admiral Nelson, the latter rests upon a marble column wreathed in laurel and the British national ensign/ jack. An early tear has been repaired.


Professor Albert William Holden (1848-1932) studied at the Royal Academy schools. Whilst living in London he exhibited at the Royal Academy 1838 -1901. He painted mainly historical, religious and genre subjects.

Chromolithograph/Colour Lithograph
 29 3/8 x 18 7/8 inc. Letters

 Ref. 118 EJ2 /SL/ dd.ande >AVL   PRICE CODE B  SOLD   Click here for price code guide

 

Gurin?  Roberts

A Rough Customer

1916

An attractive chromolithograph published by the International Tea Company's Stores as a calendar image for 1916 after the painting by G. Roberts. Depicts two young girls weighing biscuits and fruit in a hand held scale, as a pet Jack Russell dog looks expectantly on. Some early tears have been repaired.

Chromolithograph/Colour Lithograph. Some cracking and condition issues.

 28 3/4 x 18 5/8 inc. Letters

 Ref. 118 EJ3 /LN/ dd.ande > DLN  PRICE CODE A     Click here for price code guide