Studio RT Ltd

Description

This is a little gem of an oil painting on canvas by the renowned Northumberland artist George Blackie Sticks, who has signed the painting in the lower right hand corner, dated it 1874 and inscribed and dated it verso 'Pass of Foyers Near Inverness, George Blackie Sticks 1874, Hutton Chambers Pilgrim Street Newcastle'. It is a sunrise scene, with a kilted Highlander wearing a tam-o-shanter, with a pack on his back and a shepherd's crook to help him over the mountains, setting off on his journey. The river Foyers, which has a celebrated Falls, is meandering over some little falls in the centre of the painting. We couldn't actually find a Pass of Foyers, but nearby is the Fair Headed Lads Pass, which may the one the artist was painting, just thinking it was called Foyers. It is close to Inverness and Loch Ness.

George Blackie Sticks 1843-c. 1900, was the most famous of the Sticks family of artists, which include his father James Sticks, 1813-?, his brother William Sticks, his brother Andrew James Sticks, his brother Henry Sticks 1845-1878, his nephews Harry Sticks 1867-1938 and William Sticks Jr., and his own sons George Edwin Sticks 1864-1903 and Christian J. Sticks 1872-1912. We do not know the exact year of George Blackie's death, as it was not registered, but had found no painting dated after 1898, until a much larger one dated 1900, and we know that he was in poor health towards the end of his life, which restricted his paintings to relatively local views. Sadly it would appear that both of his sons died aged about 40.

George Blackie Sticks was born in Newcastle, where he lived throughout his life, and trained as a stained glass designer in the factory of William Wailes, where other members of the family also worked. He studied painting under William Bell Scott at the Government School of Art in Newcastle before becoming a full time artist. He painted in oils, scenes of the North East, then Scotland and the Lake District and painted many scenes including castles.

He exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy as well as in the provinces.

There are 13 of his paintings in the National Collection, which can be viewed at artuk.org and is represented at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle, the Shipley AG in Gateshead, the Mercer AG in Harrogate, Mansion House in Newcastle, South Shields Museum and AG, Victoria AG, the Hatton Gallery and North Tyneside Council.

The painting is framed in a 2" ornate, swept gilt frame. The painting will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 11 1/2" x 9 3/8" - 29.25cmcm x 23.8cm (30" x 20" canvas size)

Frame size: 15 3/8" x 13 3/8" - 39cm x 34cm

Medium: Oils on Winsor & Newton canvas

Condition: Very good. The canvas is clean and taut and there is no craquelure, only slight stretcher marks and no paint loss. The frame is in very good condition.