Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering for sale this expertly painted landscape oil by the artist Charles Leslie, one of the renowned Williams family of painters, who has signed the painting in the lower left corner Chas. Leslie and dated it 1874. The painting depicts a small loch surrounded by the foothills of higher mountains further in the distance. It is daytime and there are a mass of clouds around the tops of the mountains. On the left bank, seated on a rock is a man wearing a tam o'shanter with a red bobble. He is possibly the husband and father of the women and young child who are further down the path and looking out over the loch. Over on the opposite bank, there is a plume of smoke rising from a bonfire, which is nearly always found in the paintings of this artist.. The painting bears the characteristic reeds or grasses overhanging the water, which are to be found on all his paintings of lochs or lakes.

We will also be listing the companion piece to this painting.

Charles Edward John Leslie was born in Islington, London on the 27th November, 1839, the son of Emily Ann Williams, the only daughter of Edward 'Old' Williams, 1781-1853, the patriarch of the William Family of Painters, of which Charles was a young member. Emily was married to or was the partner of a mystery man by the name of Charles Leslie, Gentleman, about whom little is known, other than that he was connected to the Rothes family, as their daughter was given Rothes as a second name. So, as well as being a member of the Williams Family, Charles Leslie is also Scottish by descent, as the Leslie family were the Earls of Rothes. In 1856 and 57, the young Charles was living with his Uncle George Augustus Williams at 32 Castelnau Villas, Barnes, from whom he was gaining further instruction in painting, as well as by his other uncles, the six sons of Old Williams including Arthur Gilbert (Williams) Sidney Richard Percy (Williams)and Edward Williams Jr. In view of this, he can also be called a Member of the Barnes School.

There is a book available by Jan Reynolds entitled The Williams Family of Painters and an entry on wikipedia for Charles Leslie, as well as an online site giving biographical details and dates for the whole Williams Family.

From 1856-1862, Charles exhibited at the Royal Academy (5 works) , the British Institution (3) and Suffolk Street (16), as well as elsewhere in London Exhibitions.

By 1871, he was listed in the census as a Landscape painter, aged 31 and living with his wife? Esther born 1849 and living at 54 Camden Road London. In 1881, again listed as a Landscape Painter and aged 41, he was living at 6 Wemyss Road, Lewisham in South London. He sadly died on 9th September 1886 of liver disease at Mitcham Road, Tooting.

For an artist who died so relatively young, he was an extremely prolific painter and has over 400 auction records on artprice.com. There are 11 of his paintings in the National Collection, which can be viewed at artUK.org. He should not be confused with the artist Charles Robert Leslie RA.

The painting is framed in what may be its original, 5 inches in total, ornate gilt frame and slip. It will be supplied with new brass hangers, new brass picture wire and will be ready to hang.

Image size: 23 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches - 59.65cm x 29.2cm

Frame size: 33 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches - 85.1cm x 54.6cm

Medium: Oils on relined canvas

Condition: Very good. The canvas has been relined in the past and is now in good, clean, and taut conditon. There is a faint mark down the right hand side where the stretcher mark would have been prior to the relining. The frame and slip are also in very good conditon for their age.