Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely watercolour by the artist Charles Edwin Flower, who has signed the painting in the lower left hand corner and signed, addressed and inscribed it verso 'In the Rhododendron Dell at Kew Gardens'. The painting depicts a path through the dell, with tall rhododendron bushes in many colours on each side.

Charles Edwin Flower was born on the 4th April, 1871 in Merton, Surrey. He studied at the Royal College of Art in London and was a Painter, Graphic Artist, Illustrator and Wood Engraver. For 4 years and for £72 per annum, he was an assistant to Augustus Pitt Rivers (1827-1900) at Rushmore in Wiltshire, where he produced many drawings for its first few catalogues of the collection.

In 1899, he married sculptress Alice Perry, born 1860 in Croydon and by 1904, the couple were living in Anerley, South London, where their son Edwin was born on 15th June 1904. However, in 1902 Charles had visited the Americas, both North and South, including Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec. From 1906, he travelled through Europe, spending most of his time in Germany, and painting everywhere he went.

With fellow artist Henry B. Wimbush (1858-1943) he worked for almost 40 years for the London postcard publisher Raphael Tuck & Sons. His pictures from his travels were mostly sold in his 'Oilette' series (small versions of oil paintings) from about 1903. In 1907, he and the family moved to Wallingford, Berkshire (now in Oxfordshire for administrative purposes), where he lived until his death in 1951. He was a member of the Nottingham Society of Artists and the British Watercolour Society.

He exhibited 17 works at the Royal Society of Artists Birmingham, 7 at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 13 at the Royal Academy and 1 at the Royal Society of British Artists.

The painting is mounted and framed in a 5/8" gilt frame with painted central green line. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 13 5/8" x 9 5/8" - 34.55cm x 24.45cm

Frame size: 19 3/8" x 15 3/8" - 49.25cm x 39cm

Medium: Watercolours

Condition: Very good. There is no foxing or fading and the mount and frame are in good condition.