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Sir Walter Frederick Osborne
HIGH STREET, RYE 1889
Lot 5
Price Realised:
€30,000
Estimate:
€25,000 - €35,000
Walter Frederick Osborne RHA, ROI, 1859-1903
HIGH STREET, RYE 1889
Oil on board, 10" x 6 1/2" (25.4 x 16.5cm), signed.
Provenance: Oriel Gallery, Dublin where acquired by the present owner.
In this small study a street scene is depicte...
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Lot 5
Sir Walter Frederick Osborne
HIGH STREET, RYE 1889
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Lot 5
Sir Walter Frederick Osborne
HIGH STREET, RYE 1889
Estimate:
€25,000 - €35,000
Walter Frederick Osborne RHA, ROI, 1859-1903
HIGH STREET, RYE 1889
Oil on board, 10" x 6 1/2" (25.4 x 16.5cm), signed.
Provenance: Oriel Gallery, Dublin where acquired by the present owner.
In this small study a street scene is depicted, much of it being in shadow, but sunshine lights up the buildings to the rear of the composition and some of the rooftops. A few figures: a woman out shopping, schoolchildren, a man with a barrel, shopkeepers, and a cart, are scattered about the composition.
Walter Osborne was fascinated by such village scenes, observing people going their business, stopping to exchange news, children on their way to school or idling in the street, tradesmen at work, and people returning from market. He had represented village and market scenes in Antwerp, Brittany and elsewhere in England, and was soon to do so in Dublin and Galway.
"High Street, Rye" is set in Rye near the Sussex Coasts, painted around 1888 or 1889, Rye had been one of the fortified 'Cinque Ports' but had suffered a series of misfortunes in the Middle Ages: massive storms, being burnt by the French, and then the silting up of the river which left the town a couple of miles inland. But in Osborne's day it had become a pretty and bustling market town, with a busy port.
The artist was deeply attracted to the location, probably making several visits c.1888-1891, and being inspired to create some of his finest English works. These include "Cherry Ripe" (Ulster Museum, Belfast), which show villagers in the street of Rye; "The Ferry (sold in DeVere's Important Irish Art Auction, 22 Nov. 2013, Lot 36); and "When the Boats Come In", (19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist Art Bonhams, 1 March, 2017, Lot 62), which show local boatmen working at the harbour.
Much of "High Street, Rye) is taken up by the foreground, which is in shadow. The edge of a pavement and when marks on the roadway lead our eyes in the composition. Figures are touched in with quick, calligraphic brushstrokes. The low, slanting light and glowing sky suggest that it is early morning or evening. Our eyes are drawn to the sunlit buildings at the end of the street and the canopy of a cart, to brick walls and terracotta roofs, conveyed with creamy brushwork. Osborne employs subdued, yet warm earthy tones of siennas, creams, and terracottas. The vigorous movements and textures of his brushwork suggest that he is working at speed. Traces left by the brush can be seen in the roadway. The painting is signed simply with the artist's initials "W.O."
"High Street, Rye" is one of a series of pictures which Osborne made of the village. He made a pencil drawing of the street; a careful watercolour (which was sold at deVeres); a photograph of the village with the same composition, with the tall building with triangular roof; and the present oil study, perhaps in preparation towards his richly coloured, much loved painting "Cherry Ripe" in the Ulster Museum. In that picture, the street scene is similar, but more figures are introduced, notable a man with hat and tray, and some children, the foreground. But "High Street, Rye" has a freshness and immediacy, having been painted from life. It is as if we are looking through a window at a scene before our eyes.
Julian Campbell
HIGH STREET, RYE 1889
Oil on board, 10" x 6 1/2" (25.4 x 16.5cm), signed.
Provenance: Oriel Gallery, Dublin where acquired by the present owner.
In this small study a street scene is depicted, much of it being in shadow, but sunshine lights up the buildings to the rear of the composition and some of the rooftops. A few figures: a woman out shopping, schoolchildren, a man with a barrel, shopkeepers, and a cart, are scattered about the composition.
Walter Osborne was fascinated by such village scenes, observing people going their business, stopping to exchange news, children on their way to school or idling in the street, tradesmen at work, and people returning from market. He had represented village and market scenes in Antwerp, Brittany and elsewhere in England, and was soon to do so in Dublin and Galway.
"High Street, Rye" is set in Rye near the Sussex Coasts, painted around 1888 or 1889, Rye had been one of the fortified 'Cinque Ports' but had suffered a series of misfortunes in the Middle Ages: massive storms, being burnt by the French, and then the silting up of the river which left the town a couple of miles inland. But in Osborne's day it had become a pretty and bustling market town, with a busy port.
The artist was deeply attracted to the location, probably making several visits c.1888-1891, and being inspired to create some of his finest English works. These include "Cherry Ripe" (Ulster Museum, Belfast), which show villagers in the street of Rye; "The Ferry (sold in DeVere's Important Irish Art Auction, 22 Nov. 2013, Lot 36); and "When the Boats Come In", (19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist Art Bonhams, 1 March, 2017, Lot 62), which show local boatmen working at the harbour.
Much of "High Street, Rye) is taken up by the foreground, which is in shadow. The edge of a pavement and when marks on the roadway lead our eyes in the composition. Figures are touched in with quick, calligraphic brushstrokes. The low, slanting light and glowing sky suggest that it is early morning or evening. Our eyes are drawn to the sunlit buildings at the end of the street and the canopy of a cart, to brick walls and terracotta roofs, conveyed with creamy brushwork. Osborne employs subdued, yet warm earthy tones of siennas, creams, and terracottas. The vigorous movements and textures of his brushwork suggest that he is working at speed. Traces left by the brush can be seen in the roadway. The painting is signed simply with the artist's initials "W.O."
"High Street, Rye" is one of a series of pictures which Osborne made of the village. He made a pencil drawing of the street; a careful watercolour (which was sold at deVeres); a photograph of the village with the same composition, with the tall building with triangular roof; and the present oil study, perhaps in preparation towards his richly coloured, much loved painting "Cherry Ripe" in the Ulster Museum. In that picture, the street scene is similar, but more figures are introduced, notable a man with hat and tray, and some children, the foreground. But "High Street, Rye" has a freshness and immediacy, having been painted from life. It is as if we are looking through a window at a scene before our eyes.
Julian Campbell
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All maximum bids are confidential and not disclosed. The system will endeavor to purchase the lot for you for the least price. Bids are subject to buyer’s premium of 25% (incl vat), with no additional charges.
In the event of a tied bid, the preference will be given to the bid submitted first. The second bidder will receive immediate notification of being outbid.
PLEASE BID EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.
In order to allow rival bidders the opportunity to respond to a late bid the following extensions will apply:
IF A BID IS RECEIVED WITHIN THE FINAL 45 SECONDS OF THE COUNTDOWN THE CLOCK WILL RESET TO 60 SECONDS.
At any point you can leave a maximum bid, representing the highest price you are prepared to pay for a particular lot. Bidding only advances when there is competition from a rival bidder. In that case the system bids on your behalf, only up to the maximum if required. All bids are relayed to you be email, along with notification if you have been outbid.
All maximum bids are confidential and not disclosed. The system will endeavor to purchase the lot for you for the least price. Bids are subject to buyer’s premium of 25% (incl vat), with no additional charges.
In the event of a tied bid, the preference will be given to the bid submitted first. The second bidder will receive immediate notification of being outbid.
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