Lot 108
Alfred Montague (1832-1883)
Additional Images
Provenance:
Purchased from Frederick W. Thom Limited, Toronto, ON, gallery label verso, in 1972;
Private Collection, Toronto, ON
Note:
An affixed biography of the artist, Alfred Montague, offered by the Frederick W. Thom Limited reads :-
"Alfred Montague R.B.A.
British School, nineteenth century painter of landscapes and Marines. Alfred Montague was a member of the Society of British Artists and exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and British institute, and also at the Suffolk Street Galleries between 1832 and 1883. The museum at Salford has one of his pictures entitled "Bateau naufrage en fae".
Graves in his "Dictionary of Artists", mentions Alfred Montague as having his studio in London between the years 1832 and 1883, and exhibiting 23 pictures at the Royal Academy, 51 at the British Institute, 156 at the Suffolk Street Galleries and 93 at various exhibitions, making a total of 323 exhibited pictures during these years. The artist spent considerable time in Bruges and Ghent where he was most happy in painting incidents of barge life on the canals. His works have always been highly prized amongst British collectors, but like many of the 19th century artists, examples now rarely appear on the market.
Mentioned in Benezit's "Dictionaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs", Volume 6, page 185. [dated] 1972."
CONDITION DETAILS
The canvas has been relined. Slight skinning of the paint at the bottom edge while the right bottom edge has a line of a different colour of paint Area of damage in the upper right sky-portion where there is a horizontal crack in the paint measuring approximately 2", and the paint is heaving. Black light reveals that this spot was overpainted and there are other touches of overpaint in the sky above the cathedral tower. Fine craquelure throughout the painting's surface, most noticeable in the sky. A partial 19th century pen and ink label to the top stretcher indicates a previous owner's name- "Henry... Esq" with the title now missing and the last line missing which may have been the artist's name: "Alfred (?)..."