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| Image | Sale date | Auction house | Location | Sale name | Lot No. | Estimate | Price Sold | Condition | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep 22, 2021 | Bonhams | London | 19th Century and British Impressionist Art | 31 | $****** - ****** | Harrison Blair Fishing on the Spean |
paintings
69.5 x 122.5 cm (27.36 x 48.23 in)
oil on canvas
signed 'R. Ansdell./.1855' (lower left)
Painted for Harrison Blair.
And thence by descent to the Great Grandfather of the present owner.
Exhibited
London, Leicester and Liverpool, The Arts Council of Great Britain, British Sporting Painting 1650-1850 , 1974, no. 202.
Sotheby's, The British Sporting Heritage. A loan exhibition of Works of Art , 19 December 1984-18 January 1985, no. 275.
This present lot is a remarkable painting. Not least for the depiction of an unusual subject, but for the very strong provenance that accompanies it - something of a rarity these days. This is because, until now, the painting has remained in one family throughout. It originally belonged to the Godfather of the present owner's grandfather. The Godfather's great-uncle was a Mr. Harrison Blair who is depicted here fishing on the River Spean.
Mr. Harrison Blair was a great friend of the artist, Richard Ansdell - so much so that two of Ansdell's sons were named Harry Blair Ansdell. The first son died of croup in his infancy (the only Ansdell child to die) and the next born - another son - was also called Harry Blair Ansdell. He became a Printseller.
Mr. Harrison Blair (c.1812-1870) was a prominent figure in Lancashire society. He was first Chairman of Kearsley Local Board. He was also founder and Chairman of the Kearsley Gas Works and later a Magistrate and, together with his wife, a philanthropist. He was a Manufacturing Chemist at Kearsley together with Richard Ansdell's eldest son (Thomas Chester Ansdell): this probably defines the link between the two families. He was a contemporary of the artist and they became firm friends, both taking estates on the River Spean in the Highlands of Scotland.
Both gentlemen loved fishing for salmon, hence this wonderful portrait by Ansdell of his friend standing stoically in full gentleman's regalia in a pool amongst the rushing waters of the river. He is depicted as catching a fine fresh run salmon with a rod which would have been state of the art at the time - probably a "Whippy" rod of greenheart (a mahogany-type hardwood) rather than the earlier, less yielding, ash and oak. Mr. Blair is ably assisted by his gillie who is kneeling on a wet and slippery boulder gaffing the salmon before it is brought in.
Mr. Blair cuts a fine figure in his stylish clothes, grey top hat, starched wing collar and gold fob watch standing unperturbed in icy waters in (I presume) his everyday boots and stockings. He would have been in his late forties, his hair greying already. The gillie is beautifully depicted as he crouches over the boulder in his kilt, getting uncomfortably wet, jostling with the writhing salmon; his Tam O' Shanter and plaid draped over the rocks in the foreground. The salmon itself is a masterpiece of depiction.
This is a dramatic painting of a typical fast-flowing major Scottish river carving its way between banks of glowering rock with the ever-present threat of heavy rain, a hopeful touch of blue in the sky and the wheeling flocks of birds, so typical of Ansdell. The water itself is depicted with huge strength and purpose, from the tiny slants of white caught by the wind dripping off the road, to the spray dashing against the rocks and the tremendous power of the current creating eddying surf which can almost be heard. The water itself invites close and fascinating study - it is obvious that Ansdell enjoyed himself immensely when he painted this wonderful and unique study of his friend, Mr. Harrison Blair.
We are grateful to Sarah Kellam, great, great Granddaughter to Richard Ansdell RA, for compiling this catalogue entry. For more information on the artist see www.richardansdell.co.uk.
Richard Ansdell, RA (British, 1815-1885)
Harrison Blair Fishing on the Spean
signed 'R. Ansdell./.1855' (lower left)
oil on canvas
69.5 x 122.5cm (27 3/8 x 48 1/4in).
