William Oliver RI
William Oliver RI, Spanish Travellers on a Coastal Path –early C19th watercolour
William Oliver RI, Spanish Travellers on a Coastal Path –early C19th watercolour

William Oliver RI Spanish Travellers on a Coastal Path

€313,95
€313,95
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View the full Collection: Sir William Vernon Guise Collection

An original early 19th-century watercolour painting, William Oliver RI, Spanish Travellers on a Coastal Path.

A delightful watercolour by William Oliver RI (1804–1853), showing travellers with their mules on a coastal path, passing by a small chapel and large wooden wayside cross. The scene is likely to be in the Pyrenees region of Spain, an area which Oliver favoured in his paintings. The composition is constructed to be particularly atmospheric, with small splashes of red enlivening the figures' local dress, and symbolically, the wayside cross serving as a waymark for the walkers, possibly designating a dangerous place or suggestive of a pilgrimage.

This watercolour has until now been hidden from view in a Victorian album and forms part of our Sir William Vernon Guise Collection.

in watercolour with gum arabic to intensify the colour.

+ Read the S&W Collection Research

William Oliver RI (1804–1853)

William Oliver RI (1804–1853) was a landscape painter in oils and watercolour. He was a founding member of the New Watercolor Society. Popular in his time, he was known for his lively and realistic depictions of picturesque Grand Tour views. He travelled in England, France, Italy and Switzerland, but was especially fond of the Pyrenean area of France and Spain. He preferred to work en plein air and he completed many small studies of the towns and villages in the Pyrenees, many of which were then purchased by young travellers as souvenirs of their Grand Tour.

He also undertook a number of large and important commissions during his career, and he exhibited at the Royal Academy (1835–1853), British Institute, Suffolk Street, New Watercolour Society and elsewhere. In 1840 he married Emma Eburne, who was an artist and student of his. She too specialised in landscape painting and exhibited at numerous public exhibitions.

Oliver's works can be found in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Sheffield Art Gallery and Sunderland Art Gallery.

COA
+ Artwork Details

Dimensions: Height: 19cm (7.48") Width: 26.6cm (10.47")

Presented: Unframed.

Medium: Watercolour

Age: Early 19th-century

Signed: Signed lower left.

Inscribed: --

Dated: --

Condition: In good condition for its age. The picture may have minor imperfections such as slight marks, toning, foxing, creasing or pinholes, commensurate with age. Please see photos for detail.There are historic adhesive marks and paper remnants to the verso, from previous mounting. Please see photos for detail.

Stock number: JT-976