~ Framed Oil On Canvas ‘Rounding The Headland’ by William West (1801-1861) ~
A well executed oil on canvas painting titled ‘Rounding The Headland’ by the English landscape painter William West (1801-1861).
The painting shows a view of the coast with cliffs, cottages and three figures. A ship can be seen rounding the headland in the background.
The painting does not seem to be signed. There is however a somewhat modern label to the reverse reading ‘Property of Mrs Jean Page’ with the title of the piece and artists name, naming him William (Waterfall) West, a nickname given due to his fondness for the subject.
There is also a label which appears to be of a similar age to the painting, which is unfortunately torn. The piece left simply reads ‘No.2’. But we have another painting by West, again with the same labels to the reverse, this one with full original label featuring the name of ‘W. West’.
The painting is presented in an ornate gilt frame of a similar age to the painting.
~ Dimensions ~
The painting measures 39cm (15 ½ inches) by 29cm (11 ½ inches).
The frame measures 57cm (22 ½ inches) by 48cm (18 ½ inches).
The piece weighs 2.4 Kg.
~ Condition ~
The paint has some crazing in parts which is more visible to the sky in the top right hand corner, and some possible light discolouration round the very edge but overall is in a decent condition with no damages.
The frame has wear commensurate with age with one chip but is otherwise free from damage.
~ William West ~
William West was an English landscape painter in oils and watercolours. He was a member of the Bristol School of Art and a member of the Society of British Artists.
West arrived in Bristol around 1823 and started exhibiting there. From 1824 he participated in the sketching activities of the Bristol School and during the same year exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution.
From 1847 he concentrated on Norwegian subjects and became known as ‘Norway West’ or ‘Waterfall West’ because of his fondness for location and subject. Two of his works, On the High Road from Bergen to Christiana, Norway and At Naes, Norway, were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1848.
As well as painting, West developed a great interest in optics and engineering. In 1828 he leased a disused windmill on Clifton Down in which he installed a large telescope in its tower to turn it into an observatory. In 1837 he opened a tunnel which he had excavated from the observatory down to St Vincent’s Cave on the cliff-face of the Avon Gorge.
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