Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering for sale this pair of still life paintings of Fruits and Fruits with a Bird's Nest by Charles Thomas Bale, who has signed them both in the lower left hand corner with his usual monogrammatic signature, where the T C & B are written as a monogram, before the rest of his surname, as shown.

One of the paintings depicts a bird's nest with five blue eggs inside, alongside a bunch of purple grapes and vine leaves, with two peaches, with a single purple grape next to the bird's nest.

The other oil depicts three bunches of grapes, green, red and purple, with a couple of pomegranates and a single green grape to the centre.

Charles Thomas Bale was born in St. James's London in 1849, the son of a basket maker. It is unknown where he acquired his artistic education, or perhaps he was naturally gifted. He lived at home with his parents, in the Censuss of 1871, at 9 Poland Street, St. James's, from where he exhibited a still life entitled 'Fruit' at the Royal Academy in 1872. This was the only painting that he exhibited at the RA, but he exhibited 15 at Suffolk Street (the RBA) and 8 at various other London exhibitions, between 1868 and 1875, according to Graves Dictionary. 1872 was the year in which he married his wife Caroline, nee Leathem. They had no children.

He was principally known as a painter of still life oils, mainly of fruits, but sometimes showing game and bird's nexts, in a style derived from George Lance and William Duffield.

He and Caroline lived at various addresses in North London from then on, before ending up at 16 Camden Street, Londond NW1 in the Census of 1921, which may well be where he died in 1925.

The paintings have been newly framed in a 2 3/4 inch simple gilt frame, which allows the paintings to shine. They will be supplied with new brass hangers, new brass picture wire and will be ready to hang.

Image size: 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches _ 29.2cm x 19.05cm (camvas size 12 x 8 inches)

Frame size: 17 1/8 x 13 1/8 inches - 43.5cm x 33.35cm

Medium: Oils on canvas

Condition: Very good. the surface is clean and taut and there is no craquelure, paint loss, stretcher marks or repairs. The frames are new. Please note: We have not shown photos of the backs because there is nothing to see and we are trying to show two paintings with only 6 photos. However, images are available on request.