Artist Herbert Olivier works come fresh to market direct from his Holland Park home
23 February 2023 Newbury auction house Dreweatts is offering the largest collection of works to ever come onto the market by artist Herbert Olivier (1861-1952), uncle of the actor Sir Laurence Olivier (1907-89).
Herbert Olivier’s The Artist’s Daughter Picking Mimosa is an oil on canvas, signed and dated 1924 (lower right), 56 x 77.5cm (22 x 2ft 6½in) is estimated at £3000-5000. Check thesaleroom.com to view Herbert Olivier’s The Artist’s Daughter Picking Mimosa.
While his works can be found in museums and major collections around the world, these 39 lots come straight from the artist’s home in Airlie Gardens, Holland Park, London, where his great-grandson James Larsson says they have adorned the walls for over 100 years.
Royal Academy-trained Olivier was a portrait, allegorical and landscape painter, as well as being appointed an official war artist. He was well-known for his portraits of Royalty (George V) and aristocracy, as well as his grand-scale allegorical works.
While some of the works coming to auction were loaned to important exhibitions over the years, Dreweatts says the majority have never been seen outside the Olivier family home.
The paintings will be offered in an auction of Old Master Paintings, British and European Art on March 2.
Here are five ideas on what to buy (including the work shown above).
Goddess and mortal lover
This large work features Herbert Olivier’s brother, Gerard Olivier (1869-1939), father of award-winning actor, Sir Laurence Olivier. It is estimated at £30,000-50,000 at Dreweatts. The 1.8m x 1.25cm (5ft 11in x 4ft 1in) oil on canvas, signed lower left presents Olivier's interpretation of the last meeting of the goddess Venus and her mortal lover Adonis from Book X of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Bid for Venus and Adonis by Herbert Olivier via thesaleroom.com.
Across the bridge
Estimated at £1500-2000, this 35 x 50cm (13¾ x 19½in) oil on canvas laid on board is Herbert Olivier’s The Bridge at Asolo. Check out Herbert Olivier’s The Bridge at Asolo on thesaleroom.com.
Stark choice
In Freya Stark’s Garden is a 44.5 x 39.5cm (17½ x 15½in) oil on canvas laid on board by Herbert Olivier, signed with initials and dated '32 (lower left), estimated at £1500-2000 by Dreweatts. In Freya Stark’s Garden by Herbert Olivier can be viewed on thesaleroom.com.
Deadly serious
The subject of Death and the Maiden dates back over six hundred years and has its origins in the Greek myth of the abduction of Persephone (Proserpine among the Romans) by Hades. Herbert Olivier’s version shown here, estimated at £10,000-15,000, depicts Death as a handsome cloaked youth in an autumnal wood, re-iterating Hades infatuation with Persephone and her impending return to the underworld. She is seen gathering pomegranates, a symbol of purity and a reference to Edward Burne-Jones Proserpine. The signed oil on canvas measures 2.27 x 1.5m (7ft 5in x 4ft 11in). To bid for Death and the Maiden by Herbert Olivier visit thesaleroom.com.
