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George Wharton Edwards was born in
Fair Haven, Connecticut, in 1859, and died in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1950.
He was a painter and author of books regarding American history and European
customs. He lived in Paris prior to 1892, New York City (1892-1902);
Plainfield, New Jersey; and Greenwich, Connecticut; and was known for his
unique handling of Impressionism and for his marine paintings of fishermen,
lobstermen and boats along the Monhegan shoreline.
Edwards was educated at Antwerp
and Paris (1881-1884). In Paris, he studied under Eugene Fayen and in
Cancale. By 1890, he was painting on Monhegan.
He was an Associate of the National Academy and a member of the American
Water Color Society; National Institute of Arts and Letters; Allied American
Artists and Painters and the Sculptors’ Gallery Association. From 1898-1903
Edwards was Art Director for Collier’s and later was manager of the Art
Department for the American Bank Note Company (1904-1912). He won medals in
Boston (1884 and 1890) for drawings and repeated his success with paintings
at the 1901 Buffalo Exposition; the 1902 South Carolina Exposition; the
Barcelona Exposition; and he won the King Albert gold medal in 1920; the
Golden Palms of the French Academy in 1921 and more.
Edwards’ mural Henrik Hudson is at the United States Military Academy
at West Point. He illustrated Oliver Wendell Holmes’ Last Leaf; Austin
Dobson’s Sun Dial and Old English Ballads and travel books on London
(1921); Paris (1924); Rome (1928) and more. He was the author of Vanished Halls
and Cathedrals of France; Vanished Towers & Chimes of Flanders; Marken
and Its People; Some Old Flemish Towns; Holland of Today and many other
books.
Edwards was made Knight Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor (1925);
knighted with the Order de la Couronne Belge, 1927; and the Royal Order of
Knight Chevalier Spanish Order of Isabella from Alfonso XIII, Spain, 1928;
and Knight Chevalier, Royal Order of the Crown of Italy, 1929, for
achievements in painting and historical writings. He was awarded a medal of
the Order of the King of Belgium, the honor being conferred to him by the
king.
Edwards’ work is represented in the permanent collections at the Bruce Museum
(Greenwich, CT); Houston Museum of Fine Arts (TX); Hispanic Society (NY);
Springfield Art Museum (MO); High Museum of Art (GA); Luxembourg Museum,
Paris (mural); U.S. Military Academy (West Point, mural); Museum of Arts and
Sciences, Norfolk (VA); the Fogg Museum of Art, Harvard University
(Cambridge, MA) and more.
References:
Who Was Who in American Art, vol. 1, p. 1018; Who’s Who in American
Art (through 1947); Fink, American Art at the Nineteenth Century Paris
Salons, 340; Exhibition of the National Academy, 1861-1900; The Annual
Exhibition Record of the Art Institute of Chicago, pp. 300-301.
.Submitted by P.J. Pierce”
Note 2) The foregoing Edwards
biographical information, the very impressive tour de force exercise of
Edward's Impressionist technique and style and the sheer subtle beauty of
“The Alcantara Bridge, in the Alcazar, Toledo, Spain;” the painting's
excellent condition, good size and very attractive and compatible framing;
and the following auction records of Edwards warrant a conclusion that the
above presale estimate of $4,000-$8,000 is reasonable and justifiable.
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Title/Subject: Gate of the Conqueror, Constantinople Signed. Oil on canvas. 40 in. x 40 in.
sold for $6,250 on 10/10/2007 at Sotheby’s, NY
Title/Subject: Pont Neuf, Paris Signed. Oil on canvas. 20 in. x 24 in. sold for $5,288 on 12/08/2002
at Samuel T. Freeman &
Co, Philadelphia, PA
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Photographic Image Not
Available.(See next listing for a photo
of this painting)
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Title/Subject:
Villa D'Este, Tivoli Signed. Oil on canvas. 24 in. x 20
in. sold for $7,188 on 12/06/1998 at Grogan & Company,
Dedham, MA
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Title/Subject:
Villa D'Este, Tivoli Signed. Oil on canvas. 24 in.
x 20 in. sold for $5,462 on 11/22/1997 at Grogan &
Company, Dedham, MA
Title/Subject:
The Alcazar Palace
Gardens Signed. Oil on
canvas. 24 in. x 19.70 in. sold for $5,750 on 05/26/1993 at Christie’s, NY
Title/Subject: Ile de la Cite, Paris Signed.
Mixed Media on canvas. 25.10 in. x 19 in. sold for $12,100 on 05/28/1992 at
Christie’s, NY
Title/Subject: Market Day In An Old
Breton Town Signed. Oil on artist's board. 27.50 in. x 21 in. sold
for $13,750 on 12/05/1990 at Doyle, NYC
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