James Holland OWS, Rose & Bindweed Flowers – mid-19th-century watercolour
James Holland OWS, Rose & Bindweed Flowers – mid-19th-century watercolour
James Holland OWS, Rose & Bindweed Flowers – mid-19th-century watercolour
James Holland OWS, Rose & Bindweed Flowers – mid-19th-century watercolour

James Holland OWS Rose & Bindweed Flowers

£395.00
£395.00
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View the full Collection: Holland OWS, James (1799–1870)

An original mid-19th-century watercolour painting, James Holland OWS, Rose & Bindweed Flowers.

An exceptional flower painting by James Holland OWS (1799–1870). Holland was a distinguished watercolourist and one of the finest colourists of the English school.

Holland's floral works often have a distinctive decorative quality, in which the posy is 'readable' from various angles without a clear top and bottom. James Holland was employed at the pottery works of William Davenport in Longport from a young age and he came to excel at realistic floral designs for pottery and porcelain—where designs for plates, for example, were required to work from different angles.

This exquisite watercolour shows Holland's expertise in bringing together harmonious colours and floral textures, incorporating flowers, leaves and tendrils of different shapes and scales. Here he uses his favoured device of depicting water droplets on the leaves and petals, bringing a heightened sense of temporal realism to the design.

With gum arabic to intensify the colour. On card.

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James Holland OWS (1799–1870)

This watercolour is one of a superb collection of flower paintings by James Holland OWS (1799–1870) that we have for sale. Holland was born in Burslem, Staffordshire, where his father and other members of his family—including his brother Thomas, also an artist—were employed at the pottery works of William Davenport in Longport. James was employed there from the young age of twelve, for seven years, painting flowers on pottery and porcelain.

In 1819, Holland came to London where he continued to work as a pottery painter, but also gave lessons in drawing landscapes, architecture, and marine subjects. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1824, became an associate exhibitor of The Society of Painters in Water Colours in 1835 and joined the Society of British Artists in 1843. In 1858 he was elected a full member of the Old Water Colour Society.

Holland travelled extensively on the Continent between the 1830s and the 1850s, and he became known for his topographical works which were reproduced in the illustrated travel annuals of the day. He visited Venice, Milan, Geneva, and Paris, Portugal, Normandy and North Wales—sketching their architecture and working up compositions in beautifully coloured watercolours. His pictures of Portugal were published in the book 'The Tourist in Portugal'.

He exhibited prolifically during his lifetime: thirty-two pictures at the Royal Academy, ninety-one at the British Institution, and 108 at the Society of British Artists. His reputation grew further after his death and his works, particularly those of Venice, became much sought after.

COA
+ Artwork Details

Dimensions: Height: 15.9cm (6.26") Width: 20.7cm (8.15")

Presented: Unframed.

Medium: Watercolour

Age: Mid-19th-century

Signed: No.

Inscribed: --

Dated:

Condition: Overall in excellent condition.There are small historic adhesive and paper remnants around the edges of the verso of the card, from previous mounting. Please see photos for detail.

Stock number: JS-452