From English mills to Roman markets: Our pick of five lots at specialist picture sale
16 May 2022 The upcoming Old Master, British and European Art auction at Dreweatts’ on May 26 includes a wide variety of works, both in terms their geography and style.
‘Market Day, The Pantheon, Rome’ by Jean Victor Louis Faure – estimated at £30,000-50,000 at Dreweatts.
Among the 254 lots are historical and architectural views of Continental landmarks as well as scenic landscapes of the British countryside. Here are five lots that caught our eye, giving you a flavour of what’s on offer across the different price levels.
1. Winter Sunshine
This picture titled ‘Winter Sunshine’ by Florence Fitzgerald (1857-1927) is estimated at £500-800 at the Dreweatts sale. The London-born artist and sculptress was the daughter of the Victorian painter John Anster Fitzgerald (1819-1906) and the wife of the landscape painter Walter Follen Bishop (1856-1936).
This 19.5 x 2ft 6in (50 x 76cm) oil on canvas remained in the artist's family and has been consigned by a descendent.
View the catalogue entry for this Florence Fitzgerald painting on thesaleroom.com.
2. Watermill landscape
Among a number of works at the Dreweatts sale by Walter Follen Bishop (1856-1936) is ‘Landscape with a watermill’, a signed watercolour measuring 23.5in x 3ft 4in (60cm x 1.01m).
As with the Florence Fitzgerald picture, mentioned above, it comes from a descendent of the artist’s family. Bishop was born in Liverpool and studied at Liverpool School of Art before later travelling widely and exhibiting at numerous galleries including the Royal Academy. This picture is estimated at £200-300.
View the catalogue entry for this Walter Follen Bishop watercolour on thesaleroom.com.
3. Local landmarks
A pair of English provincial school views of Goddam Castle and Sherbourne Lodge Dorsetshire are included in the Dreweatts sale. The watercolours and bodycolours measure 11 x 14.5in (29 x 37cm) and are offered as a single lot, estimated at £600-800.
View the catalogue entry for these English provincial school watercolours on thesaleroom.com.
4. Portrait of a Viscountess
![Bessie, 7th Viscountess Gort, by Frank Moss Bennett](/media/79769/frank-moss-bennett-tsr-16-05-22.jpg?width=700&height=500&rmode=max&updated=05%2f16%2f2022+14%3a18%3a29)
A portrait of Bessie, 7th Viscountess Gort, by Frank Moss Bennett – estimated at £2000-3000 at Dreweatts.
This elegant portrait of Bessie, 7th Viscountess Gort, was painted by Frank Moss Bennett (1874-1952). It dates from 1922, the year after she married Standish Robert Vereker MC (later 7th Viscount Gort).
Bessie shared her husband Robert's passion for restoration projects, working with him on the restoration of Bessie Surtees' House in Newcastle and later on Bunratty Castle in Ireland.
The painting at Dreweatts comes in a silver painted Sunderland style frame and is estimated at £2000-3000. View the catalogue entry for this Frank Moss Bennett portrait on thesaleroom.com.
5. View of Rome
![Jean Victor Louis Faure view of Rome](/media/79770/jean-victor-louis-faure-view-of-rome-tsr-16-05-22.jpg?width=700&height=500&rmode=max&updated=05%2f16%2f2022+14%3a18%3a29)
‘Market Day, The Pantheon, Rome’ by Jean Victor Louis Faure – estimated at £30,000-50,000 at Dreweatts.
One of the Old Master paintings at the top end of the price-scale in terms of the estimates for works at the Dreweatts sale is this view of Rome by the artist Jean Victor Louis Faure (1786-1879). Titled Market Day, The Pantheon, Rome, the oil on canvas is one of a number of views of the Italian capital produced by the artist who was inspired by the likes of Canaletto and Bernardo Bellotto.
Faure was born in Berlin at the end of the 18th century to French parents and later became one of many northern artists who embarked on a Grand Tour of Italy to develop their outlook and skill as a painter.
This example is estimated at £30,000-50,000.
View the catalogue entry for this Jean Faure view of Rome on thesaleroom.com.