1. Dutch School (18th Century), 'Two figures with a horse beside an inn'

Reminiscent of Pieter van Lear’s paintings, this panel depicts a moment in the life of a traveller. The horse munches on a basket of hay, while the rider is trying to quench his thirst, staring down an empty carafe. Such images were extremely fashionable in Rome during the 17^th Century; they were called ‘bambocciate’, which translate to ‘puppet scenes’, and were genre paintings of the working classes and their everyday life. Such paintings were collected not only by the middle class but by noble families, and hung next to Saints and Virgin Maries, a contrasting juxtaposition which was extremely appreciated at the time.

2. Glynn Boyd Harte (British 1948-2003), 'Côte d'Azur, Cannes'

Glynn Boyd Harte was an English artist who studied at St. Martin’s art school and was influenced by artists such as Fritz Wegner and Nicola Bayley. His use of coloured crayons combined with the tempera, creates a unique visual contrast of texture and colours. Cote d’Azur, for example, perfectly renders the heat of the sun, and captures, like a postcard, the essence of a summer holiday. Among his many artistic achievements, Glynn Boyd Harte drew a series of striking portraits of people such as Stoppard, John Wood, Brian Eno, novelist Isobel Strachey, and Duncan Grant.

3. James Walker Tucker (British 1898-1972), 'Sea Foam, St. Ives, Cornwall'

This watercolour by James Walker Tucker perfectly captures the beauty of a Cornish beach. Tucker skilfully uses the ground colour of the paper to render the sand, over which he contrasts the brownish colours of the rocks with the whites of the sea foam. The white dashes of the waves rise when crashing against the rocks and blend with the blue colours of the sky. This is an exquisite piece of art, subtle, yet elegant, which speaks to all those people who travel to Cornwall and are aware of the beauty of its land and sea.

4. After David Roberts, 'Ancient Temples at Petra'

This intriguing work is indistinctly signed with initials, but draws direct influence from David Roberts. David Roberts was a Scottish painter who travelled in Egypt, Nubia, Sinai, The Holy Land, Jordan, and Lebanon. During his travels he was fascinated by what he saw, and avidly painted the views and monuments which passed before his eyes. In this case, the Temples of Petra, built in the mountains, stand out for their monumentality and architectural uniqueness. Like a vision belonging to another world, Roberts painted them through the amazed eyes of a foreigner.

5. David Bryce (British 1803-1876), 'Gladiators'

David Bryce was an incredibly eclectic architect. His style started from a more classic Palladian and Italian Renaissance architecture, before changing to a French Gothic and Scottish Baronial style. Bryce must have studied deeply the shapes and forms of antique architecture. In this case, the drawing does not copy an architectural classical monument, but the renowned classical sculpture of The Wrestlers, now held at the Uffizi. The drawing is done with great precision and reflects Bryce’s drawing skills, which he must have developed during his career as an architect.

Auction Details

Friday 16 February, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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