A Graduate of Pomona
William Henry Hunt, Light and Shade, dated 1835
Light and Shade
Private Collection
Watercolor and gum arabic with scratching out
12 3/4 X 9 5/8 in
Signed and dated, u.r., W. HUNT 1835
Provenance:
Lieut.-Gen. R. G. Feilden;
(S) Christie's London, 9 Feb 1982, Lot 57 (P) £972, $1,657* Chris Beetles;
Chris Beetles Ltd., London, from whom purchased in Nov 1987 by the present owner for £2,750.
Exhibited:
Blackburn, England, Blackburn Corporation Art Gallery, No. 14.
Favorite subjects of William Henry Hunt were children going to bed while holding candles to guide their way. The artist painted two versions of this Black Boy which are very close in appearance. It is interesting that the artist used such limited pallets in these paintings, which was obviously intentional -- this example has even less color variation than did the other watercolor.
It is often difficult to make out dates in the artist's hand, but it is especially hard to read the dates on these two watercolors. The date on this version is probably 1835. Strangely, the other version is signed and dated three times in different areas. This may have been done at the request of an owner who couldn't make up their mind how to frame that watercolor, since the signatures are at different corners of the watercolor. The date next to the upper right signature has the last digit cut off in the photograph, while the date on the upper left is placed against a very dark portion of the background, making it extremely difficult to read. But that date may be 1835. However, the date running along the right edge at the bottom of rhe watercolor seems to be 1836. Unless someone with great eyesight or some scientific means for deciphering hard to read dates can accurately determine the dates on these two watercoors, it seems unlikely that the question of which is the first, primary version will be able to be answered.
William Henry Hunt, Light and Shade, dated 1835
Light and Shade
Private Collection
Watercolor and gum arabic with scratching out
12 3/4 X 9 5/8 in
Signed and dated, u.r., W. HUNT 1835
Provenance:
Lieut.-Gen. R. G. Feilden;
(S) Christie's London, 9 Feb 1982, Lot 57 (P) £972, $1,657* Chris Beetles;
Chris Beetles Ltd., London, from whom purchased in Nov 1987 by the present owner for £2,750.
Exhibited:
Blackburn, England, Blackburn Corporation Art Gallery, No. 14.
Favorite subjects of William Henry Hunt were children going to bed while holding candles to guide their way. The artist painted two versions of this Black Boy which are very close in appearance. It is interesting that the artist used such limited pallets in these paintings, which was obviously intentional -- this example has even less color variation than did the other watercolor.
It is often difficult to make out dates in the artist's hand, but it is especially hard to read the dates on these two watercolors. The date on this version is probably 1835. Strangely, the other version is signed and dated three times in different areas. This may have been done at the request of an owner who couldn't make up their mind how to frame that watercolor, since the signatures are at different corners of the watercolor. The date next to the upper right signature has the last digit cut off in the photograph, while the date on the upper left is placed against a very dark portion of the background, making it extremely difficult to read. But that date may be 1835. However, the date running along the right edge at the bottom of rhe watercolor seems to be 1836. Unless someone with great eyesight or some scientific means for deciphering hard to read dates can accurately determine the dates on these two watercoors, it seems unlikely that the question of which is the first, primary version will be able to be answered.