John Brett, A.R.A. (1831-1902)
Lot 81

John Brett, A.R.A. (1831-1902)

A Summer Day, Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire, South Wales

Closed11 December 2014

Price Realised

GBP 35,000

More Information

How to sell

John Brett, A.R.A. (1831-1902)
A Summer Day, Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
signed and dated 'John Brett 1872' (lower right) and further signed and inscribed 'John Brett/38 Harley Street/Cavendish Square' (on the artist's label attached to the stretcher)
oil on canvas
33 x 57 in. (84 x 145 cm.)
In the artist's original frame.

Purchased from the artist by Rt Hon. William Kenrick of Harborne, Birmingham, and recorded on 7 December 1874 in the family account book as 'John Brett picture A Summer Day South Wales White Sands Bay Saint Brides £150’, and by descent to the present owner.

Specialist note

Brett spent much of September and October 1871 with his wife and baby son at Whitesand Bay, near St David's, where he painted a number of oil sketches in his newly-adopted 7 x 14 in. format. These all feature one or other of the distant rocky outcrops known as the North Bishop and the South Bishop, which are visible looking west from the beach.

In his studio the following winter he developed three larger works from these sketches - Whitesand Bay (unlocated), The South Bishop Rock, Anticipations of a Wild Night (sold Christie's South Kensington, 29 June 2011, lot 83) and the present work. The first two were sent in to the 1872 Royal Academy, while this work was sent to Liverpool in the autumn as A Summer day on the sands. Commenting on the painting during the Liverpool exhibition, The Art Journal critic described it as "a most natural and delightful picture, full of character, and of the best points of Mr Brett's style".

We are grateful to Charles Brett for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.