European & British Art
European & British Art
Property from a Private Collection
Henry Wallis, R. W. S.
Shakespeare and Spenser
Lot Closed
December 14, 03:48 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from a Private Collection
Henry Wallis, R. W. S.
British
1830 - 1916
Shakespeare and Spenser
signed and dated H. Wallis. / 1864 lower right; titled, signed and inscribed with the artist's address Shakespeare and Spenser / Henry Wallis / 4 Grove End Rd. / St. Johns Wood. on the stretcher and signed and inscribed with the artist's studio address H Wallis Esq / The Mews / Campden Hill on a label attached to the stretcher
oil on canvas
Unframed: 51 by 66.5cm., 20 by 26in.
Framed: 64 by 80cm., 25 by 31½in.
The artist's studio and thence to the artist's daughter-in-law Alice Julyan Wallis (née Roberts)
Thence to her great-niece Mrs. Vera G. Whiting of Purley, Surrey (sale: Sotheby's, Belgravia, 10 April 1973, lot 192)
B Cohen (purchased at the above sale)
Private collection, Ireland
Thence to her great-niece Mrs. Vera G. Whiting of Purley, Surrey (sale: Sotheby's, Belgravia, 10 April 1973, lot 192)
B Cohen (purchased at the above sale)
Private collection, Ireland
Fraser's Magazine, 1865, vol. 71, p. 751
The Art Journal, New Series, 1865, vol. IV, p. 166
The Athenaeum, 1 April 1865, no. 1953, p. 462
The Illustrated London News, 22 April 1865, p. 386
Pall Mall Gazette, 6 May 1865, p. 10
The Athenaeum, 13 May 1865, vol. 1959, p. 657
The Illustrated London News, 13 May 1865, p. 451
The Examiner, 10 June 1865, p. 362
Ronald Lessens, 'Henry Wallis (1830-1916) A Neglected Pre-Raphaelite', The British Art Journal, Autumn 2014, vol. XV, no. 1, p. 54
Ronald Lessens and Dennis Lanigan, Henry Wallis (1830-1916) From Pre-Raphaelite Painter to Collector/Connoisseur, 2019, pp. 113-114, cat. 50, p. 114, illustrated
The Art Journal, New Series, 1865, vol. IV, p. 166
The Athenaeum, 1 April 1865, no. 1953, p. 462
The Illustrated London News, 22 April 1865, p. 386
Pall Mall Gazette, 6 May 1865, p. 10
The Athenaeum, 13 May 1865, vol. 1959, p. 657
The Illustrated London News, 13 May 1865, p. 451
The Examiner, 10 June 1865, p. 362
Ronald Lessens, 'Henry Wallis (1830-1916) A Neglected Pre-Raphaelite', The British Art Journal, Autumn 2014, vol. XV, no. 1, p. 54
Ronald Lessens and Dennis Lanigan, Henry Wallis (1830-1916) From Pre-Raphaelite Painter to Collector/Connoisseur, 2019, pp. 113-114, cat. 50, p. 114, illustrated
'Mr. Wallis gives us a pleasant glimpse at Shakespeare's home life and the troubles of Spenser during the few months that preceded the death of the latter. Shakespeare and Spenser shows how the latter might have visited the former in London, and just after his return from Kilcolman, of what remained of its ruins, he is pallid and worn with grief; his sensitive nature and delicate look are admirably expressed by the figure which that of the healthier Shakespeare so warmly, yet unaffectedly, shakes by the hand. Of several subjects of this class which Mr. Wallis has painted none have approached this one as a story or in execution.'
(The Athenaeum, 1 April 1865, no. 1953, p. 462)
Henry Wallis had painted several pictures of famous British writers, including Dr. Johnson at Cave's, the Publisher (sold in these rooms, 19 November 2008, lot 102), The Death of Christopher Marlowe painted in 1862 (whereabouts unknown) and his best-known picture The Death of Chatterton of 1855-56 (primary version at Tate). Unsurprisingly Shakespeare was of particular interest to him and he painted, in collaboration with Edwin Landseer, In Shakespeare's House, Stratford-upon-Avon in 1854 (Victoria & Albert Museum, London) and A Sculptor's Workshop, Stratford-upon-Avon, AD 1617, in 1857 (present whereabouts unknown, replica in The Royal Shakespeare Company Collection, Stratford-upon-Avon) depicting Gerard Johnson creating the famous likeness of the play-write.
(The Athenaeum, 1 April 1865, no. 1953, p. 462)
Henry Wallis had painted several pictures of famous British writers, including Dr. Johnson at Cave's, the Publisher (sold in these rooms, 19 November 2008, lot 102), The Death of Christopher Marlowe painted in 1862 (whereabouts unknown) and his best-known picture The Death of Chatterton of 1855-56 (primary version at Tate). Unsurprisingly Shakespeare was of particular interest to him and he painted, in collaboration with Edwin Landseer, In Shakespeare's House, Stratford-upon-Avon in 1854 (Victoria & Albert Museum, London) and A Sculptor's Workshop, Stratford-upon-Avon, AD 1617, in 1857 (present whereabouts unknown, replica in The Royal Shakespeare Company Collection, Stratford-upon-Avon) depicting Gerard Johnson creating the famous likeness of the play-write.