Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are delighted to offer for sale this wonderful portrait oil by the renowned artist Richard Beavis, who has signed the painting in the lower right hand corner. The painting is entitled verso on a very old label 'A Spanish Gypsy Queen' by Rd. Beavis RI, but we do not know whether this is in the artist's own hand.

The painting depicts a Spanish woman dressed in a white blouse, which is off on one shoulder, and a red gathered skirt. She has a patterned, woven shawl hanging low over the skirt at the back, which she is holding at her waist. The detail on the shawl is amazingly captured by the artist. She has a red patterned scarf over her black hair, which is knotted at the back, the ends hanging down her back.

Richard Beavis was born in Exmouth, Devon circa 1824, as he is variously recorded in census records as having been born in 1825 and 1826. Despite parental opposition he became a student at the Government School of Design in 1846. On leaving, he became a designed with the decorating and interior design company Messrs. Trollope full time until 1853, where his designs resulted in their success in three international competitions, and thereafter part time. He also painted the ceiling of St. Bride's Church in London.

Meanwhile, he was painting and exhibiting from 1851-1896, the year of his death in Kensington. He was elected an Associate of the New Watercolour Society in 1862 and gained full Membership in 1871. He later trasnsferred to the Old Watercolour Society and was elected ARWS in 1882 and RWS in 1892.

His subjects were very varied, including marines, landscapes, eastern scenes, portraits, animals, and historical scenes and he was noted for his atmospheric treatment of his subjects.

He exhibited a total of 331 paintings at London exhibitions between 1851 and1893 according to Graves Dictionary, including 43 at the Royal Academy. Graves ceased in 1893. He also exhibited on the Continent.

He lived in Boulogne 1867-8 and visited the Netherlands and various parts of France, where he was influenced by the Barbizon School painters. In 1875 he travelled via Venice and Brindisi to Cairo, Jaffa and Jerusalem, these trips giving him subject matter for future paintings.

As he painted at least 6 paintings with Spanish subject matter, (2 dated 1887 and 1 1888) it is very likely that he also visited Spain, as there is a painting by him entitled 'A Woman of Valencia', (this painting can be viewed on artnet and also on arcadja, page 2), the subject of that painting may have been the model for this painting as there is a striking resemblance.

His biographical information is available in The Dictionary of Victorian Painters by Christopher Wood, The Dictionary of British Artists (Collector's Club) and the Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists by H. L. Mallalieu.

There are 24 of his painting in the National Collection according to artUK and may be viewed in the museums of the following cities, Sunderland, Sheffield, Portsmouth, Glasgow, Liverpool, Rochdale, Canterbury, York, Brighton & Hove, also works are held by The City of London Corporation, the Laing Art Gallery, Russell-Coates Art Gallery in Bournemouth, Edinburgh University and Argyll & Bute Council.

Auction results achieved for works by this artist may be found at artprice.com (198 listings), artnet.com (169), findartinfo.com (103) and arcadja.com (96).

His studio sale was held at Christie's in London on February 17th, 1897.

The painting is framed in a 2 3/4" cream and gilt swept frame and will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 23 5/8" x 16 1/2" - 60cm x 41.9cm

Frame size: 29 3/8" x 22 3/8" - 74.5cm x 56.8cm

Medium: Oils on canvas

Condition: Excellent condition. There is no overpainting, paint loss, or repairs and the surface is clean and taut. There is a very slight stretcher mark along the top of the painting, but the paint has not cracked and there is a small amount of craquelure consistent with age. The frame is a more recent replacement and has a couple of repairs and some cracking, but no losses and is very acceptable to hang.