Idwal. George Cockram (1861-1950). 1880s. Watercolour; signed and inscribed on the artist's label. 31 x 49 inches. The label reads 'No 1 / Idwal. / George Cockram / Rhos Neigr / Ty Croes / Anglesea / £200.0.0'. Reproduced courtesy of the Maas Gallery. Click on image to enlarge it.
Although Cockram only dated his work in the early part of his career (and not always even then), in this case the title and the unusually high price of £200 make it possible to identify this large close-framed watercolour with the watercolour exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1900. In addition, as conclusive proof, the number of the exhibit is chalked on the reverse of the frame. The watercolour did not sell in London, so was sent on for exhibition at the Liverpool Autumn Exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery; the number in that exhibition is also chalked on the back of the frame. In Liverpool, the asking price remained £200. As it did not reappear in a subsequent exhibition, the picture must have sold then or soon afterwards. Although not recent, the frame on this watercolour is probably not the original, which would almost certainly have been made by R. Jackson of Slater Street, Liverpool. When the frame was replaced, the back board was retained, since the original exhibition numbers from 1900 are still present. — Charles Nugent
Bibliography
Nugent, Charles. From Birkenhead to Anglesey: An Artist Rediscovered. 20 April-6 May 2022. London: The Maas Gallery. Web. 9 May 2022.
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Last modified 9 May 2022