Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are pleased to offer one of a pair of watercolours by the artist H. A. Culham, who has signed the painting in the lower left hand corner, dated it 191n and inscribed a verse of the poem which the scene depicts. The verse is taken from one of the series of twelve interconnected poems by Alfred, Lord Tennyson called the Idylls of the King. The sequence as now printed, first appeared in 1891.

The poems present the story of King Arthur from his first meeting with Guinevere to the ruin of his kingdom and his death.

This particular painting is taken from the poem The Coming of Arthur and derscribes the scene where she is standing outside the walls of her father's castle and sees Arthur passing, at the head of his knights..

We have been unable to dfefinitively state any details about the artist H. A. Culham, we but can make an educated guess, but have no proof of his artistic abilities, although he studied technical drawing, became a draftsman and ended up being the managing director of the company he worked for. The gentleman concerned was named Herbert Augustus Culham and his signature is not dissimilar to that on his Census record, although that is not in capitals.

Herbert Augustus Culham was born in Essex in 1887 and after studying he became a draftsman for a firm of mechanical engineers in Clerkenwell Road, London, remaining with them until his death in 1950. As none of the other candidates as artist of this pair of watercolours had any relationship whatsoever to the art world, we are suggesting that Herbert Augustus may well be the artist.

The watercolour is framed in its original 3cm pierced gilt frame and original mount with inscription showing. It will be supplied wired with new brass hangers, new brass picture wire and will be ready to hang.

NB. We will be supplying a copy of Idylls of the King with the painting or paintings,, for the buyer's interest.

Image size: 17 x 12 3/4 inches - 43.15cm x 32.4cm

Frame size: 26 5/8 x 22 3/8 inches - 67.6cm x 56.8cm

Medium: Watercolours

Condition: Very good. The colours are strong and true and there is no foxing. The frame and mount are in very good condition.