Monte Alverno - An Irish Private Collection
Monte Alverno - An Irish Private Collection
A set of four Irish George II embossed bird gouaches, mid-18th century, by Samuel Dixon
Auction Closed
May 26, 03:18 PM GMT
Estimate
5,000 - 8,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A set of four Irish George II embossed bird gouaches, mid-18th century, by Samuel Dixon
depicting in basso relievo various birds perched on branches or rocky outcrops, in associated gilt-japanned frames, with labels affixed to the reverse of three frames identifying the species
29.9cm. high, 25.2cm. wide (9¾in., 11¾in.)
Christie's London, Important English Furniture, 5 April 2001, lot 231 (£11,163 with premium)
Samuel Dixon was a well-known Irish artist who predominantly produced gouache paintings of vibrant birds and flowers from across the globe. The present lot are from 1750, in a suite that came to be known as his 'Foreign Bird Set'. The first painting in the series, not included in this group, bore the label 'To the Right Hon. CHAWORTH BRABAZON, Earl of Meath, these twelve pieces of Foreign Birds, done in Basso Relievo, and painted in their natural Colours, are dedicated by his Lordships most humble and most obedient servant SAMUEL DIXON'. The basso relievo technique refers to the method of impressing selected parts of the design using a copper plate, creating a raised surface on which gouache would then be applied.