Hubert Von Herkomer (German born British, 1849-1914). Oil on canvas genre painting, 1879. Signed "H.H. 1879" in red at lower left corner. Also signed "H. Von Herkomer" on verso. A charming painting by Sir Hubert Von Herkomer depicting an elderly gentleman and a young woman convening at a stone memorial topped by a large cross in a rural setting. The man - dressed in a blue coat and buttoned vest over a white collared shirt, brown pants, wooden (perhaps Dutch) shoes, and a large hat - leans against the stone monument and holds a long cane. The young maiden - donning a red apron over her blue dress with a white Dutch cap matching her broad white collar - kneels at the left, holding a ceramic pitcher. The pair flank this memorial or gravesite, perhaps exchanging some comforting words. This touching scene is rendered in Von Herkomer's signature realistic style with a vibrant palette. A wonderful example of Von Herkomer's genre paintings, mounted in an attractive custom frame. Size (sight view): 20.75" L x 16.2" W (52.7 cm x 41.1 cm) Size (frame): 25.4" L x 20.875" W (64.5 cm x 53 cm)

Artist Biography: Sir Hubert von Herkomer was a composer and film director as well as a fine artist best known for his genre paintings of poor, humble folk delineated in a realistic style. Born in Bavaria, his mother and father, a wood carver, emigrated to the United States in 1851, where they briefly lived in Cleveland, Ohio, and then moved to Southampton, England in 1857 before moving to Bushey in 1874. Herkomer went to art school in Southampton and also studied in Munich. In 1866, he studied at South Kensington Schools, and had his first exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1869. His painting titled "The Last Muster" (1875) earned him a position of high distinction at the Academy, and in 1879, he was elected an associate of the Academy; in 1890, he became an academician. Von Herkomer also founded the Herkomer Art School at Bushey in 1883 which he directed until 1904. Among his 500 students were notable artists such as Lucy Kemp-Welch, George Harcourt, Tom Mostyn, E. Borough Johnson and Roland Wheelwright. Von Herkomer worked in oils, watercolor as well as enamel, etching, and mezzotint engraving. Other honors include: associate of the Royal Watercolour Society (1893); full member of Royal Watercolour Society (1894); Slade Professor of Fine art at the University of Oxford (1885-1894); named "Ritter von Herkomer" by King Otto of Bavaria (1899) who also appointed him Knight of Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown; awarded Pour le Merite for Arts by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Herkomer also painted Queen Victoria on her deathbed as an alternative to the traditional wax mask. The painting depicted Queen Victoria half-length, wrapped in white tulle, surrounded by lilies and flowers, and holding a cross in her right hand. This painting is in the Royal Collection at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, England, where it is displayed in the Pavilion Principal Stairs Vestibule. In addition, four of Von Herkomer's paintings are in the national collection at Tate: Found (1885), Sir Henry Tate (1897), Portrait of Lady Tate (1899) and The Council of the Royal Academy (1908). Furthermore, he received an honorary degree of DCL at Oxford as well as a knighthood by the king in addition to commandership of the Royal Victorian Order in 1907. (source: Bushey Museum & Art Gallery site)

Provenance: private Monroe, Connecticut, USA collection

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#178847

Signed "H.H. 1879" in red at lower left corner. Also signed "H. Von Herkomer" on verso with a few words written below it that are difficult to discern by may refer to the location or title of the painting. "H. Von Herkomer" is carved into lower stretcher. Painting shows with expected age wear, some stretcher marks, a few small tears at upper right (on the land to left of trees), but imagery and hues are still strong. Verso of canvas has darkened with age and there are a few patches indicative of repairs or conservation. Frame post-dates the painting, has some minor scuffs/nicks. Otherwise very nice and fit with suspension wire.