Lear is probably best known for his 'Nonsense Poems', but he was also a very fine draughtsman and painter.
In the mid-60's I managed an Art Gallery in London's Devonshire Street, and amongst our small stock of Lear's drawings and watercolours were several plain pencil sketches, from the mid-1800's, such as the above.
In those days Lear's drawings fetched far more if coloured than in plain pencil or pen, and most of ours were sent down to a man in Dorking Surrey (Bob someone) who would add muted watercolour highlights to otherwise planer work.
I remember thinking at the time that this was some sort of sacrilege, but my boss insisted.
I do wish I'd bought some of them, but I think the same about many of the works that passed through my hands. I should have thought about it at the time; too late now.
p.s. This same Bob in Dorking would 'paint out' Cows from Victorian landscapes for us; they just weren't fashionable. He was very good at it too.
18 comments:
Behind the scenes in the art business. Sounds incredible.
Unfashionable cows?
Interesting insights
You'd be surprised by some of the things that go on behind scenes. The gallery where I worked was 99% honest, but there's a lot of skullduggery about.
Didn’t Tim Keating get some of his fakes authenticated as genuine in Paris just to prove the point? Picasso is the most faked I believe.
A favourite scam is to put them for sale at a reputable saleroom, buy them yourself, then offer the catalogue as verification of authenticity when re-selling. If you see a 'Picasso' having been sold through Sotheby's, you wouldn't normally discute its being genuine!
Sacrilege indeed Cro.
I always thought so!
That seems so wrong, messing about with another artist's work.
I should have bought them as plain drawings. It would have saved them!
Interesting
Hmmmmm.
Aaaaaargh!
I think I meant 'dispute'; I was breaking into French again.
Indeed.
Makes art a bit ‘ grubby ‘ I think ! XXXX
It was 'Art as Business'. Anything to make a few extra bob.
It is still big business to do this.
I imagine so. If people like Bob are still around (and I'm sure they are), all sorts of 'changes' can be made!
Post a Comment