Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are delighted to offer this dramatic oil painting on board by the artist Ezra Elmer Keene, who has signed the painting Elmer Keene in the lower left hand corner. Elmer was his second name, which he used exclusively for his paintings. The painting depicts a stormy sea crashing on some rocks, with gulls wheeling overhead.

Ezra Elmer Keene was born in March 1853 in Osberton near Worksop, Nottinghamshire into a Quaker family. His father Stephen was a foreman miller and Ezra was a miller in his early years, probably working under his father, but by the census of 1881, he was married to Eliza Elizabeth (nee Darlow) who he married in 1880, and was working as a photographic artist at 21 Rothbury Street, Scarborough. In total, they had 11 children, of whom 6 died and another, Percy, one of twins, was killed in 1917 in WWI, while working as a driver in the RASC.

We know that he exhibited 1 oil painting at the Royal Academy in 1895, a view of Burniston Bay in Yorkshire and in the census of 1891 he was listed as an artist, marine and landscape and was living at 54 Waring Street, Leicester. This street no longer exists, but at the time of his RA exhibit, he was listed as living at Park Terrace, St. Saviours Road, Leicester. However, in the census of 1911, written in his own hand, Elmer who had dropped Ezra by this time, was listed as an Artist working from home, as was his son Frank, home being a large 10 roomed house at 100 Uppingham Road Leicester. Elmer died in Leicester in the 4th quarter of 1929.

Despite not exhibiting widely, Elmer presumably found a ready market for his work, as well as a large number of his paintings being turned into postcards by several manufacturers, including Tucks. He painted in oils, watercolours and also used pastels to great effect in his charcoal moonlight scenes, some of which were issued as prints. His paintings appear on the market periodically and his auction records may be found at the usual sites.

The painting has been framed by us in a 2" gilt frame with pale grey lines and will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 17 1/2" x 11 1/2" - 44.45cm x 29.2cm

Frame size: 21 1/2" x 15 1/2" - 54.6cm x 39.35cm

Medium: Oils on Winsor & Newton Academy Board

Condition: Excellent. The surface is clean and there is no damage. The frame, while not new, is in very good condition.