Antique English Victorian Lithograph Engraved Watercolour Painting Picture of Dolly Varden by William Frith (Circa 1887)

Summary:

• Item: William Powell Frith Watercolour
• Engraver: Charles Edward Wagstaff (1808 – 1850)
• Painter: William Powell Frith (1819 – 1909)
• Medium: Hand Tinted Lithograph
• Circa: 1870
• Period: Victorian
• Provenance: London, UK
• Subject: Dolly Varden
• Woodland scene
• Extremely well painted
• Natural colours
• Pleasing subject
• Original frame
• Signed William Powell Frith
• Good original condition
• Frame Height = 70cm / 27½” / 2ft 3½”
• Frame Width = 54cm / 21¼” / 1ft 9¼”
• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland*
• 14-day free UK returns policy

Description:

This is a fine quality antique English Victorian hand-painted lithograph of Dolly Varden in a woodland scene.  Originally engraved by Charles Edward Wagstaff and then believed to be hand-tinted by William Powell Frith in watercolours, circa 1887, in excellent condition.

Dolly Varden, a mythical character, first appeared in the novel Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens’s, who was also a friend of William Powell Frith.  Edward Frith-Powell painted Dolly Varden in many poses; her style of dress became famous throughout England and Europe with young working-class / middle-class girls, who emulated this fashion in the late Victorian period.  This particular picture was of a pose of a young girl in a wood.  The painting shows good rich colours and the stye of the Victorian hat and dresses of the day.

The lithograph was originally engraved by Charles Edward Wagstaff, who was a line, mezzotint and mixed-method engraver, specialising in portraits and historical and genre subjects (born 1808 and died 1850).

This lithograph was then hand-painted by Edward Frith-Powell in 1887.  It was purchased by John Dexter on the 25^th May 1887 on Derby Day, which was presumably the Derby Festival at Epsom.  This is written and signed in the bottom left-hand corner of the picture.  It was a popular tradition for famous artists to sell their work at big events social or sports event (a bit similar to book signings today).

Edward Frith-Powell was very famous in his day; many of his works were exhibited at the Royal Academy.  The demand was so great to see these pictures that police were employed to protect pictures on display, as viewing was so popular!  It is also worth noting that Edward Frith-Powell was also a friend of George Bernard Shaw.

The William Powell Frith watercolour has the skill to draw you in with its range of strong colour, hues and texture, depicting the fictional Dolly Varden character.  The watercolour is framed in its original ornate gilt and ebonised frame, which is in excellent condition.

This William Powell Frith watercolour would look superb in a variety of rooms, including the hallway, living room or bedroom.  This item would certainly grace any home and is a great investment as it is an attractive and colourful piece.  So don’t miss out on your chance to own a lovely picture.

Artist Provenance:

William Powell Frith – Provenance:

William Powell Frith RA (9 January 1819 – 2 November 1909) was an English painter specialising in genre subjects and panoramic narrative works of life in the Victorian era. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1853, presenting “The Sleeping Model” as his Diploma work.  He has been described as the “greatest British painter of the social scene since Hogarth”.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Powell_Frith 
Source: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/name/c-e-wagstaff

Charles Edward Wagstaff – Provenance:

Charles Edward Wagstaff was a line, mezzotint and mixed-method engraver, specialising in portraits and historical and genre subjects, engraved after works by contemporary artists. He was born in London, where he is thought to have lived and worked.  He was born 1808 and died 1850.

Source: https://artcollection.culture.gov.uk/person/wagstaff-charles-edward/#:~:text=(1808%20%2D%201850),to%20have%20lived%20and%20worked.
Source: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp12182/charles-edward-wagstaff 

Condition Report:

This is a fine quality antique English Victorian hand-painted lithograph of Dolly Varden in a woodland scene.  Originally engraved by Charles Edward Wagstaff and then believed to be hand-tinted by William Powell Frith in watercolours, circa 1887, in excellent condition.  The picture is in good original condition – the blue colours are strong.  The William Powell Frith watercolour is signed “Frith” in the bottom left-hand corner.  The picture sits in its original ebony and gilt frame.  The frame has been cleaned.  Nominal old age marks to the leading edges of the gilt frame, but nothing significant, considering the age of the item.  A later blue mount has been placed around the picture.   This portrait incorporates a new string and is ready to hang.

Dimensions:

Frame Height = 70cm / 27½” / 2ft 3½”
Frame Width = 54cm / 21¼” / 1ft 9¼”
Frame Depth = 4cm / 1½”
Picture Height = 42.5cm / 16¾” / 1ft 4¾”
Picture Width = 34.5cm / 13⅝”

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Ref.103322