William Lee Hankey

20th Century Watercolour Painting - At the Fish Market

1904

Auguste RODIN (1840-1917) Seated Nude, Cambodian Dancer c. 1898 - 1900 Pencil and watercolour 11.5 x 9.3 inches; 25 x 20.5 inches, inc. frame Provenance: Christie's South Kensington: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 "It's very simple. My drawings are the key of my art." Rodin was an extraordinary creative artist and a prolific worker. After attending the “Petite École”, he worked in the studio of the ornamentalist Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, first in Paris, then in Brussels, where his skill in handling decorative subjects fashionable in the 18th century became apparent. His discovery of Michelangelo, during a visit to Italy in 1875-76, was a decisive moment in his career. Rodin would, in turn, break new ground in sculpture, paving the way for 20th-century art, by introducing methods and techniques that were central to his own artistic aesthetics. In 1906, King Sisowath of Cambodia visited France on an official state visit. It was on this visit that Rodin discovered the dancers of the Cambodian Royal Ballet and was inspired to draw and paint them over 150 times. They made a deep impression on the artist, as he confided to Georges Bourdon, in an article for the newspaper Le Figaro on 1 August 1906: “There is an extraordinary beauty, a perfect beauty, about these slow, monotonous dances, which follow the pulsating rhythm of the music… [The Cambodians] have taught me movements I had never come across anywhere before…” Originally seeing them in Paris he left everything suddenly to follow the dancers of the royal ballet to Marseille, from where they would embark on their return to Cambodia. In just one week, he made about one hundred and fifty drawings, re-transcribing or interpreting the ballet poses, with an obvious fascination for the arms and hands of the dancers. These drawings were later highlighted with watercolour, creating coloured harmonies of a rare refinement. The first performance of the Cambodian Royal Ballet took place in the context of the Colonial Exhibition in Marseille. Sisowath 1st had just been crowned King of Cambodia when he undertook the first trip ever to be made by a Cambodian sovereign to France, which had controlled Cambodia since June 1884. This official visit occurred at the height of French colonial expansion. Previously, the Universal Exhibition of 1900 had attracted 48 million visitors! The organisers realised what a tremendous impact this event made on the public, and it was soon adopted as the main tool for colonial propaganda. At the exhibition in Marseilles, the area devoted to Indochina was the largest of the seven sections. When Auguste Rodin met the troupe of dancers for the first time in July 1906, during their brief visit to Paris for an exceptional performance at the Pré Catalan...

Henri-Edmond Cross Figural Studies Graphite and charcoal on paper 18 7/8 x 14 1/4 inches; 47.5 x 35 cm 26.5 x 31 inches; 67.3 x 78.7 cm inc. frame Henri Edmond Cross (May 20, 1856 -...

Charles Augustus Henry LUTYENS (1829 – 1915, British) On the Scent c.1880 Unframed 50 x 84 inches Framed 64 x 98 inches Oil on Canvas Signed Provenance: Possibly commissioned by George William Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry (1838-1930); thence by family descent; Croome Court House Sale, Worcestershire 1948 Lord Coventry was a keen huntsman having founded the North Cotswold Hunt in 1867 and in 1882 The Croome. Besides founding two Hunts, he also held the unique distinction of owning racehorses that won two Grand Nationals in consecutive years. Daphne Moore, the hunting correspondent writing about the Croome Hounds c.1950, emphasised the influence of Rambler as a perfect type of hound. ‘Who could have dreamed that in 1949 well-bred hounds in almost every kennel in England would have at least a trace of Rambler’s blood in their veins?’ … to the hound man The Croome and the name Coventry immediately recalls Rambler. Anyone who has seen his portrait by Lutyens, will remember him as being the perfect type of hound for any country…’ Charles Lutyens the artist spent his early adult life in the Army, joining the 20th foot and siled with them in 1850 to serve in Canada. In 1857 he left the army to take up life as a professional artist. He based himself at Onslow Square...

Jan Kupetsky (1667 - 1740) Czech School An artist grinding colours, possibly a self-portrait Oil on canvas Signed, verso : "Joseph Prinzig" Provenance: Private Collection, Hungary ...

William Huggins (1820 - 1884) Two pumas in a landscape Oil on panel Signed and dated, 'W. Huggins 1840' Exhibition and gallery labels, verso Provenance: Ex-Collection, the Master of...

15th century, Italian Circle of Antonio del Pollaiuolo (1429-1498) Portrait of an Italian Noblewoman Oil and tempura on poplar panel With partial inscription: ALZETAPIN Provenance:...

Precious Watercolor attributed to James WARD (1769-1859) - England, 1830-1840. The Fisherman' S Family. Measurements : View : 20"x14.6" (51x37 cm), With frame : 26.6"x21.5" (67.5x54....

Louis Gallait (1810-1887) Portrait of a Gentleman, Watercolor and gouache on paper, square white lines, 24 x 16 cm Stamp of the Louis Gallait Estate on the mount on the lower righ...

France circa 1850 The Bohème artist in his workshop Watercolor on paper 15.5 x 21.5 cm In good condition except a small tear (visible on the photographs) on the upper right border. I...

Attribuetd to Eugène Devéria (1805-1865) La Famille heureuse (The Happy Family) Watercolor on paper 23 x 18 cm In quite good condition : a small tear i...

French school 19th century, An italian bandit, 1864, watercolor on paper On the reverse of the sheet (now under the back of the frame) an annotation, "Rome 1864" 25,5 x 21.5 cm (v...

French school 19th century, Court scene in front of a palace watercolor on paper 16.4 x 13.3 cm In good condition, some foxings Framed : 30 x 26.5 cm This enigmatic yet charming s...