Loading Spinner
Don’t miss out on items like this!

Sign up to get notified when similar items are available.

Lot 9: Walter Frederick Osborne RHA ROI (1859-1903) SUNSHINE AND BLOSSOM, 1885

Est: €100,000 EUR - €150,000 EURSold:
Whyte'sDublin, IrelandNovember 28, 2022

Item Overview

Description

Walter Frederick Osborne RHA ROI (1859-1903)
SUNSHINE AND BLOSSOM, 1885
oil on canvas
signed and dated lower left; titled on labels on reverse
h:14  w:18 in.

Provenance:
Private collection, Denmark

Exhibited:
Dublin Sketching Club, 1885, catalogue no. 244



Literature:
Jeanne Sheehy, Walter Osborne, Ballycotton, 1974, no. 126;
A. le Harival and M. Wynne, Acquisitions 1984-1986, National Gallery of Ireland, 1986, p. 67

A boy stands in a meadow tending cattle, the trees in blossom, on a sunny spring day. Behind is a wall and a white-washed cottage with thatched roof, and a hazy blue sky. The scene is lit by a blond, pearly light, giving a mood of stillness and harmony. Sunshine and Blossom was painted in the English countryside, possibly in Hampshire in 1885. For much of the late 1880s and early 1890s Walter Osborne worked in a number of villages in England, painting many rural scenes, coastal subjects and landscapes, and producing some of his finest work. There his love for rural subjects deepened and his mature naturalistic style developed.

Osborne had earlier painted a small orchard scene with farmhouse, A Sunny Morning, in Pont-Avon, Brittany in 1883. Now in Sunshine and Blossom he introduces a much fuller subject. A boy stands to the left of the tree, his figure half-hidden by long grass, tending four young brindled cows in the centre of the composition, one grazing another looking out at the viewer, while the cow approaching in the foreground is in shadow. The animals are framed by the trees, which form an arch, the branches and pink and white blossoms create complex but delicate patterns against the sky.

The boy is an archetypal subject for Osborne. Such figures of country boys and girls, standing in the meadows or gardens, their clothes lit by sunlight, soft hats casting shadows upon their foreheads and perhaps holding a twig in their hands, appear in many pictures. The boy is attentive to the animals, yet also lost in reverie. Behind the wall is a long cottage with thatched roof, white-washed walls and low windows. To the left of the picture is a small gate, while at the right side there is a line of washing which gives a hint of human presence nearby.

Osborne orchestrates all the elements of the painting into a harmonious whole, combining a careful naturalism with a gentle lyricism, to create a peaceful scene of rural life. Equal attention is given to each part of the picture. We note, for example the impastoed brushstrokes in the boy's white clothing, the square-brush style in the modelling of the trees, the vigorous brushwork in the meadow, flecked with delicate wild flowers, and, in contrast, the transparent blue shadows cast by the eaves of the thatched roof upon the white walls.

Sunshine and Blossom is painted on canvas. Labels on the reverse - hand-written by Osborne - indicate the picture's title and the artist's address in Rathmines, County Dublin. The painting was exhibited at the Dublin Sketching Club in 1885, priced £20. Osborne made a small pen and ink drawing after the painting (NGI, cat. no. 19, 201, p.3). He went on to execute many other rustic pictures, for example, Fast Falls the Eventide, 1888, showing a woman tending three cows in a meadow in front of a village.

Sunshine and Blossom has not been seen in public in Ireland for many years, having been in a private collection in Denmark. Its appearance in Dublin is an exciting discovery, and sheds new light upon Osborne's rich oeuvre.

Dr Julian Campbell,
October 2022

Dimensions

h:14 w:18in.

Medium

oil on canvas

Condition Report

Excellent condition.

Exhibited

Dublin Sketching Club, 1885, catalogue no. 244

Literature

Jeanne Sheehy, Walter Osborne, Ballycotton, 1974, no. 126;
A. le Harival and M. Wynne, Acquisitions 1984-1986, National Gallery of Ireland, 1986, p. 67

Provenance

Private collection, Denmark

Notes

A boy stands in a meadow tending cattle, the trees in blossom, on a sunny spring day. Behind is a wall and a white-washed cottage with thatched roof, and a hazy blue sky. The scene is lit by a blond, pearly light, giving a mood of stillness and harmony. Sunshine and Blossom was painted in the English countryside, possibly in Hampshire in 1885. For much of the late 1880s and early 1890s Walter Osborne worked in a number of villages in England, painting many rural scenes, coastal subjects and landscapes, and producing some of his finest work. There his love for rural subjects deepened and his mature naturalistic style developed.

Osborne had earlier painted a small orchard scene with farmhouse, A Sunny Morning, in Pont-Avon, Brittany in 1883. Now in Sunshine and Blossom he introduces a much fuller subject. A boy stands to the left of the tree, his figure half-hidden by long grass, tending four young brindled cows in the centre of the composition, one grazing another looking out at the viewer, while the cow approaching in the foreground is in shadow. The animals are framed by the trees, which form an arch, the branches and pink and white blossoms create complex but delicate patterns against the sky.

The boy is an archetypal subject for Osborne. Such figures of country boys and girls, standing in the meadows or gardens, their clothes lit by sunlight, soft hats casting shadows upon their foreheads and perhaps holding a twig in their hands, appear in many pictures. The boy is attentive to the animals, yet also lost in reverie. Behind the wall is a long cottage with thatched roof, white-washed walls and low windows. To the left of the picture is a small gate, while at the right side there is a line of washing which gives a hint of human presence nearby.

Osborne orchestrates all the elements of the painting into a harmonious whole, combining a careful naturalism with a gentle lyricism, to create a peaceful scene of rural life. Equal attention is given to each part of the picture. We note, for example the impastoed brushstrokes in the boy's white clothing, the square-brush style in the modelling of the trees, the vigorous brushwork in the meadow, flecked with delicate wild flowers, and, in contrast, the transparent blue shadows cast by the eaves of the thatched roof upon the white walls.

Sunshine and Blossom is painted on canvas. Labels on the reverse - hand-written by Osborne - indicate the picture's title and the artist's address in Rathmines, County Dublin. The painting was exhibited at the Dublin Sketching Club in 1885, priced £20. Osborne made a small pen and ink drawing after the painting (NGI, cat. no. 19, 201, p.3). He went on to execute many other rustic pictures, for example, Fast Falls the Eventide, 1888, showing a woman tending three cows in a meadow in front of a village.

Sunshine and Blossom has not been seen in public in Ireland for many years, having been in a private collection in Denmark. Its appearance in Dublin is an exciting discovery, and sheds new light upon Osborne's rich oeuvre.

Dr Julian Campbell,
October 2022

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

The buyer will be responsible for all removal, storage and insurance charges in respect of any lot which has not been collected within fourteen days of the date of sale.

Auction Details

Important Irish Art

by
Whyte's
November 28, 2022, 06:00 PM GMT

38 Molesworth Street, Dublin, 2, IE

Terms

Buyer's Premium

24.6%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
€0€99€5
€100€299€10
€300€699€20
€700€1,299€50
€1,300€2,999€100
€3,000€6,999€200
€7,000€12,999€500
€13,000€29,999€1,000
€30,000€69,999€2,000
€70,000€129,999€5,000
€130,000€299,999€10,000
€300,000€699,999€20,000
€700,000+€50,000

Terms and Conditions of Sale Notice

Whyte & Sons Auctioneers Limited, trading as Whyte's, hereinafter called "the auctioneer" exercises all reasonable care to ensure that all descriptions are reliable and accurate, and that each item is genuine unless the contrary is indicated. However, the descriptions are not intended to be, are not and are not to be taken to be, statements of fact or representations of fact in relation to the lot. They are statements of the opinion of the auctioneers, and attention is particularly drawn to clause 5 set out below. Comments and opinions, which may be found in or on lots as labels, notes, lists, catalogue prices, or any other means of expression, do not constitute part of lot descriptions and are not to be taken as such unless they are made or specifically verified by the auctioneers. Clause 1 (a) Each lot is put up subject to any reserve price imposed by the vendor (b) Subject to sub-clause (a) of this clause, the highest bidder for each lot shall be the purchaser thereof (c) If any dispute arises as to the highest bidder the auctioneer shall have absolute discretion to determine the dispute and may put up again and re-sell the lot in respect of which the dispute arises. Clause 2 (a) The bidding and advances shall be regulated by and at the absolute discretion of the auctioneer and he shall have the right to refuse any bid or bids. NOTE: Where an agent bids, even on behalf of a disclosed client, the auctioneer nevertheless has the right at his discretion to refuse any such bid. (b) The purchaser of each lot shall immediately on its sale, if required by the auctioneer, give him the name and address of the purchaser and pay to the auctioneer at his discretion the whole or part of the purchase money. If the purchaser of any lot fails to comply with any such requirement the auctioneer may put up again and re-sell the lot; if upon such re-sale a lower price is obtained than was obtained on the first sale the purchaser in default on the first sale shall make good the difference in price and expenses of re-sale which shall become a debt due from him. (c) Where an agent purchases on behalf of an undisclosed client such agent shall be personally liable for payment of the purchase money to the auctioneer and for safe delivery of the lot to the said client. Clause 3 (a) The auctioneer reserves the rights to bid on behalf of clients including vendors, but shall not be liable for errors or omissions in executing instructions to bid. (b) The auctioneer reserves the rights, before or during a sale, to group together lots belonging to the same vendor, to split up and to withdraw any lot or lots at the auctioneer's absolute discretion and without giving any reason in any case. (c) The auctioneer acts as agent only, and therefore shall not be liable for any default of the purchaser or vendor. Clause 4 (a) Each lot shall be at the purchaser's risk from the fall of the hammer and shall be paid for in full before delivery and taken away at his expense within one day of the sale. The buyer will be responsible for all removal, storage and insurance charges in respect of any lot which has not been collected within one day of the date of sale. (b) If any purchaser fails to pay in full for any lot within 21 days of the date of sale such lot may at any time thereafter at the auctioneer's discretion be put up for sale by auction again or sold privately; if upon such re-sale a lower price is obtained than was obtained on the first sale the purchaser in default on the first sale shall make good the difference in price and the expenses of re-sale which shall become debt due from him. (c) Interest at 2 per cent per month and legal costs (if any) for recovery of monies due shall be payable by the purchaser on any overdue account. Clause 5 (a) All lots are made available for inspection before each sale and each buyer, by making a bid, acknowledges that he has satisfied himself as to the physical condition, age and catalogue description of each lot (including but not restricted to whether the lot is damaged or has been repaired or restored). (b) All lots are sold with all faults and imperfections and errors of description and the Auctioneer and its employees, servants or agents shall not be responsible for any error of description or for the condition or authenticity of any lot, save for Clause 5 (c) below. Written or verbal condition reports may be supplied by the Auctioneer on request but these are merely statements of opinion, and any error or omission in these reports may not be taken as grounds for a cancellation of sale or refund of any part of the purchase price or the cost of any repairs to the lot or lots reported on (c) A purchaser shall be at liberty to reject any lot if he - (i) gives the auctioneer written notice of intention to question the genuineness of the lot within seven days from the date of sale; AND (ii) proves that the lot is a deliberate forgery and (iii) returns to the auctioneer within 20 days from the date of sale the lot in the same condition as it was at the time of sale; provided that the auctioneer may, at his discretion, on receiving a request in writing from the purchaser, extend for a reasonable period the time for return of the lot to enable it to be submitted to expertisation. NOTE: The onus of proving a lot to be a deliberate forgery is on the purchaser. (d) Where a lot has been submitted to expertisation, all costs of such expertisation shall be paid by the person who retains the certificate of expertisation and item or items to which the certificate relates. (e) Where the purchaser of a lot discharges the onus and acts in accordance with sub-clause (b) of this clause, the auctioneer shall rescind the sale and repay to the purchaser the purchase money paid by him in respect of the lot. (f) No lot shall be rejected if, subsequent to the sale, it has been marked by an expert committee or treated by any other process unless the auctioneer's permission to subject the lot to such treatment has first been obtained in writing. (g) Any lot listed as a "collection, range, portfolio etc." or stated to comprise or contain a collection or range of items which are not described shall be put up for sale not subject to rejection and shall be taken by the purchaser with all (if any) faults, lack of genuineness and errors of description and numbers of items in the lot, and the purchaser shall have no right to reject the lot; except that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this sub-clause, where before a sale a person intending to bid at the sale gives notice in writing to, and satisfies the auctioneer that any such lot contains any item or items undescribed in the sale catalogue and that person specifically describes that item or those items in that notice, then that item or those items shall, as between the auctioneer and that person, to be taken to form part of the description of the lot. Clause 6 The respective rights and obligations of the parties shall be governed and interpreted by Irish law, and the buyer hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish Courts. SPECIAL CONDITIONS (a)The buyer shall pay the Auctioneer a commission at the rate of 24.6% (which includes VAT at the prevailing rate under The Margin Scheme and which is not reclaimable.
(b) The Auctioneer or its employees, servants or agents may, on request organise packing and shipping of lots purchased or may order on the buyer's behalf third parties to pack or ship purchases. Under no circumstances does the Auctioneer accept any liability whatsoever for any loss or damage howsoever occasioned in the course of such service. (c) The buyer authorises the Auctioneer to use any photographs or illustrations of any lot purchased for any or all purposes as the Auctioneer may require. The placing of a bid will be taken as full agreement to all the above conditions. WHYTE & SONS AUCTIONEERS LIMITED 38 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

Credit Cards

We accept credit cards to a maximum value of €500 for payment for any winning online bidders at all sales We do require credit card information to bid; this is only to confirm identity and address and will not be used for payment if you are the winning bidder.

VAT on Buyers Premium

The Buyer's Premium includes Margin Scheme VAT of 23% which is not reclaimable.

Condition

Whyte & Sons Auctioneers Limited, trading as Whyte's, hereinafter called "the auctioneer" exercises all reasonable care to ensure that all descriptions are reliable and accurate, and that each item is genuine unless the contrary is indicated. However, the descriptions are not intended to be, are not and are not to be taken to be, statements of fact or representations of fact in relation to the lot. They are statements of the opinion of the auctioneers, and attention is particularly drawn to clause 5 in our full Terms & Conditions. Comments and opinions, which may be found in or on lots as labels, notes, lists, catalogue prices, or any other means of expression, do not constitute part of lot descriptions and are not to be taken as such unless they are made or specifically verified by the auctioneers.

Premium & Taxes

The buyer shall pay the Auctioneer a commission at the rate of 24.6% (which includes VAT at the prevailing rate under The Margin Scheme and which is not reclaimable). There is no internet charge for bidding on-line at Invaluable.or Whyte's.

Payment

Each lot shall be paid for in full before delivery and taken away at his/her expense within seven days of the sale.

Shipping

The buyer will be responsible for all removal, storage and insurance charges in respect of any lot which has not been collected within fourteen days of the date of sale.