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This is a fine large mid-19th century landscape oil on canvas depicting an extensive river landscape with castle ruins on a nearby hilltop by the eminent Royal Academician, Frederick Richard Lee RA (1798-1879). This superb work is signed by the artist, and dated 1841.
Lee trained at the Royal Academy schools, and first exhibited there in 1822. He went on to have a further 170 paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy, placing him amongst the first rank of 19th century British landscape painters.
Lee’s work was often compared to that of John Constable (who had just the 104 paintings shown by the RA) and he was elected a full Royal Academician in 1838. In addition he exhibited 131 works at the British Institution, and 24 with the Society of British Artists.
Lee often painted works with his friends Thomas Sidney Cooper and Sir Edwin Landseer, both of whom provided the cattle for Lee’s landscape backgrounds. One such collaboration set the current world record for a Lee, selling for $278,000 at Christie’s London in 2003.
Works by Frederick Richard Lee, such as the one being sold here, are in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Tate Gallery in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Dimensions: (framed) 99cm x 83cm (39” x 32¾”)
Dimensions: (canvas only) 84cm x 67cm (33” x 26½”)
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Provenance: Fine Private West London Collection.
Presentation: Mid-20th century gilt Baroque frame.
Condition: Very good. Ready to hang.