Contact Seller
Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
Tel01597 272 439Please quote Antiques Atlas.
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Non UK callers :
+44 1597 272 439
James Smetham 19thc. Drawing Studies (1)
Poultry and Cattle with Figures in a Field (1)
Studies from an album of scraps from sketch books by Jas. Smetham
Poultry and Cattle with Figures in a Field: Graphite/pencil and watercolour with white highlights on blue paper, variously inscribed in pencil and brown ink ‘Wendover May 27’
Provenance: A transcript of a letter written by the artist’s daughter will be included in the sale.
James Smetham produced over four hundred paintings during his lifetime. Like his good friend Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who was a major influence on his art, Smetham was a poet as well as a painter. He also wrote criticisms and recorded fascinating details on many celebrated personages of his day. His paintings ranged from portraits to Biblical interpretations, arcadian vignettes and landscapes. Smetham had great hopes and complicated theories about how audiences would understand and buy his art, but he was sadly disappointed with critical response. However, he received praise from some eminent contemporaries like John Ruskin, George Frederick Watts and Dante Gabriel Rossetti who hailed his friends' paintings as "the flower of modern art".
THE ALBUM (NOW DISMANTLED)
SCRAP BOOK
Bound in black with gold letters
229 drawings and watercolours previously pasted to 45 pages, includes one print and one photograph
Compiled by the artist’s daughter, Edie and her siblings in 1878
Inscribed on the frontispiece Scraps from Sketch Books - Jas. Smetham variously inscribed throughout the book.
Overall size of album 8 ½ x 4 ½ in. (22 x 14 cm.)
Throughout his life Smetham had suffered from bouts of mental illness but it was in the fall of 1877 that he succumbed to a debilitating attack after which he withdrew from the world, he became delusional and virtually ceased talking. Almost a year had passed since his attack when he received the album. After a decade of emotional and psychological anguish, he died on February 5, 1889.
LETTERS
Three letters written by his daughter Edie accompanied the album, two of the letters are addressed to Sarah her mother and the other is written and addressed to her grandmother in 1878 (during fathers illness). Smetham was being looked after by Sarah at an address in Malvern, Worcestershire. On Oct-78 from the family home in Stoke Newington, and before sending the book Edie wrote a letter to her mother describing how Ted her brother, had mistakenly ordered the album to be bound in black instead of the dark green her mother wanted.
Along with the letters came three typed pages of an exhibition of Smetham’s works. The document starts with a short biography which follows with a comprehensive list of items including letters, books, journals, oil paintings, prints, drawings, watercolours and photographs. Unfortunately, there is no information to say when or where the exhibition was held.
THE WORKS
A total of 229 works were removed from the album – some pencil, others pen and ink, chalk, watercolour and bodycolor of various sizes. There are studies of animals and botany, portraits and figure sketches and compositions for pictures, including scenes from the tempest and other romantic and fanciful subjects. His love of nature and literature along with his spiritual and scientific interests are evident in these works, but they also give us some insight into the close connection he had with his family and friends. One of Smetham’s prints are included and a photo of a painted portrait given to the artist is inscribed - to J Smetham from his friend F.J.S. - (Frederick James Shields, 1833-1911).
PAYMENT OPTIONS
PayPal /Card transactions can be processed through PayPal on our company website. We also accept payment by cheque and bank transfer. Deferred payments can be accepted over an agreed period of time whilst paintings remain with us.
CONDITION AND PRESENTATION
In our description, if a picture is shown to be framed then the frame will be included with the sale of the picture. Unless stated otherwise all unframed watercolours, drawings and prints have been mounted onto acid-free conservation board using either Japanese hinging paper or reversible wheat starch past. Unframed and mounted pictures are then wrapped in clear polyester film to protect both the picture and the mount. All conservation work has been carried out by accredited conservators.
SellerRadnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
View all stock from
Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
Private dealer
By appointment only
Powys
Mid Wales
Tel : 01597 272 439
Non UK callers : +44 1597 272 439
Studies from an album of scraps from sketch books by Jas. Smetham
Poultry and Cattle with Figures in a Field: Graphite/pencil and watercolour with white highlights on blue paper, variously inscribed in pencil and brown ink ‘Wendover May 27’
Provenance: A transcript of a letter written by the artist’s daughter will be included in the sale.
James Smetham produced over four hundred paintings during his lifetime. Like his good friend Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who was a major influence on his art, Smetham was a poet as well as a painter. He also wrote criticisms and recorded fascinating details on many celebrated personages of his day. His paintings ranged from portraits to Biblical interpretations, arcadian vignettes and landscapes. Smetham had great hopes and complicated theories about how audiences would understand and buy his art, but he was sadly disappointed with critical response. However, he received praise from some eminent contemporaries like John Ruskin, George Frederick Watts and Dante Gabriel Rossetti who hailed his friends' paintings as "the flower of modern art".
THE ALBUM (NOW DISMANTLED)
SCRAP BOOK
Bound in black with gold letters
229 drawings and watercolours previously pasted to 45 pages, includes one print and one photograph
Compiled by the artist’s daughter, Edie and her siblings in 1878
Inscribed on the frontispiece Scraps from Sketch Books - Jas. Smetham variously inscribed throughout the book.
Overall size of album 8 ½ x 4 ½ in. (22 x 14 cm.)
Throughout his life Smetham had suffered from bouts of mental illness but it was in the fall of 1877 that he succumbed to a debilitating attack after which he withdrew from the world, he became delusional and virtually ceased talking. Almost a year had passed since his attack when he received the album. After a decade of emotional and psychological anguish, he died on February 5, 1889.
LETTERS
Three letters written by his daughter Edie accompanied the album, two of the letters are addressed to Sarah her mother and the other is written and addressed to her grandmother in 1878 (during fathers illness). Smetham was being looked after by Sarah at an address in Malvern, Worcestershire. On Oct-78 from the family home in Stoke Newington, and before sending the book Edie wrote a letter to her mother describing how Ted her brother, had mistakenly ordered the album to be bound in black instead of the dark green her mother wanted.
Along with the letters came three typed pages of an exhibition of Smetham’s works. The document starts with a short biography which follows with a comprehensive list of items including letters, books, journals, oil paintings, prints, drawings, watercolours and photographs. Unfortunately, there is no information to say when or where the exhibition was held.
THE WORKS
A total of 229 works were removed from the album – some pencil, others pen and ink, chalk, watercolour and bodycolor of various sizes. There are studies of animals and botany, portraits and figure sketches and compositions for pictures, including scenes from the tempest and other romantic and fanciful subjects. His love of nature and literature along with his spiritual and scientific interests are evident in these works, but they also give us some insight into the close connection he had with his family and friends. One of Smetham’s prints are included and a photo of a painted portrait given to the artist is inscribed - to J Smetham from his friend F.J.S. - (Frederick James Shields, 1833-1911).
PAYMENT OPTIONS
PayPal /Card transactions can be processed through PayPal on our company website. We also accept payment by cheque and bank transfer. Deferred payments can be accepted over an agreed period of time whilst paintings remain with us.
CONDITION AND PRESENTATION
In our description, if a picture is shown to be framed then the frame will be included with the sale of the picture. Unless stated otherwise all unframed watercolours, drawings and prints have been mounted onto acid-free conservation board using either Japanese hinging paper or reversible wheat starch past. Unframed and mounted pictures are then wrapped in clear polyester film to protect both the picture and the mount. All conservation work has been carried out by accredited conservators.
Price The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 7/APR/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer. SOLD
DimensionsImage: 17.3 x 12.7 cm.
Backing paper: Blue Ingres, laid 27 x 21 cm.
Category Antique Pictures / Engravings / Art
> Antique Watercolours
Period 19th Century Antiques
Material Paper
Origin English
Condition Very good, this drawing has been removed from the album and conserved onto sheets of blue laid paper ready to be framed
Item code as176a775
Status Sold
£0 
$0.00 
€0.00 
$
€
Conversion rates as of 7/APR/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer. SOLD
Shipping information
All our prices include FREE packing and delivery within the UK.
If you live outside the UK and you wish to purchase a painting, please contact us by phone or e-mail for further details concerning shipping costs.
If you live outside the UK and you wish to purchase a painting, please contact us by phone or e-mail for further details concerning shipping costs.
Terms and conditions
Returns and Complaints
Great care and trouble has been taken to ensure that all details written for every picture are correct and the photos are of sufficient quality so that each item can be viewed in detail. If the purchaser can find a fault (by way of a photograph) as proof of damage in transit that is not present in our promotional photo i.e. a tear in the canvas, broken glass, broken frame, damage to surface of picture, then a full or part refund will be offered back to the purchaser depending on the extent of the damage. This will only apply within 24 hours of signing for the parcel.
If the parcel has arrived and appears to be damaged in some way please return the parcel to us (unopened) and we will refund the purchase price on receipt of the picture.
If the purchaser can prove with written evidence from three independent experts that our description was false or misleading in any way then a full refund will be offered back to the purchaser.
Every effort has been made to give our clients complete confidence and satisfaction when buying from our company.
Great care and trouble has been taken to ensure that all details written for every picture are correct and the photos are of sufficient quality so that each item can be viewed in detail. If the purchaser can find a fault (by way of a photograph) as proof of damage in transit that is not present in our promotional photo i.e. a tear in the canvas, broken glass, broken frame, damage to surface of picture, then a full or part refund will be offered back to the purchaser depending on the extent of the damage. This will only apply within 24 hours of signing for the parcel.
If the parcel has arrived and appears to be damaged in some way please return the parcel to us (unopened) and we will refund the purchase price on receipt of the picture.
If the purchaser can prove with written evidence from three independent experts that our description was false or misleading in any way then a full refund will be offered back to the purchaser.
Every effort has been made to give our clients complete confidence and satisfaction when buying from our company.
View all stock from
Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
Private dealerBy appointment only
Powys
Mid Wales
Tel : 01597 272 439
Non UK callers : +44 1597 272 439
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