Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are very pleased to offer for sale this large and finely executed watercolour by the artist WILLIAM CASLEY, who has signed the painting in the lower left hand corner. The painting depicts a view of the Cornish coast, probably near the Lizard, with the waves crashing onto the rocky outcrops, throwing spray up into the air. There are many seabirds both on the rocks and in the central sky area. On this occasion, there is no actual location on the back of the watercolour.

This painting was originally sold by the Harrods, Ltd Picture Department, as it bears their very old label on the backing board, listing their Managing Director as one Richard Burridge, who, according to the Harrods archive was in post from 1891-1917.

WILLIAM CASLEY, was born in Mullion, Cornwall in 1853. In 1901, he was living at 7 Beacon Terrace, The Lizard, Cornwall, but by 1918 he was living in his new house, Pentreath, The Lizard with his wife Harriet, his son William Leonard (1893-1985) and his daughter Violet Dean Casley (1894-1918).

There is now rather a sad story, as William died in the 2nd quarter of 1918, closely followed by his daughter Violet in the 4th quarter of the same year and his widow Harriet on 2nd November 1918. As this was the year of the Spanish Flu pandemic that killed millions, it is possible that this was the cause. William died in Cornwall, but Violet and Harriet died in Kensington, so it is possible that Violet was attending art school in Kensington and Harriet had moved to London to chaperone her.

William's son William Leonard, who signed his work Leonard to avoid confusion with his father, had signed up for the Royal Flying Corps, which became the RAF in 1915, so may have avoided the Flu. After he was discharged in 1919, he married his wife Vera and was living at the family home, Pentreath, The Lizard, Cornwall. He exhibited in the 20s and 30s and was still living at Pentreath in 1939. He died in Cornwall in 1985 at the age of 92.

WILLIAM CASLEY exhibited three paintings at the Royal Institute for Painters in Watercolour and three paintings at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. His biographical details are available in The Dictionary of British Artists and The Dictionary of British Artists by Grant M. Waters.

Auction results for works by this artist can be found at artprice.com (152 listings), findartinfo.com (57), arcadja.com (45), and artnet.com (8). A 36" x 19" watercolour of the Cornish coast by this artist achieved £1,200 at David Lay in 2006.

The painting has been mounted with washlines to complement and is newly framed in a 1 3/8" ornate dull silver frame. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 23 1/2" x 11 1/4" - 59.7cm x 28.55cm

Frame size: 30 1/2" x 18 5/8" - 77.55cm x 47.3cm

Medium: Watercolours

Condition: Excellent condition with no foxing The mount is in very good condition and the frame is new.