William Burgess
of Dover 1805-1861 original signed painting Charles Dickens Corner
Example
sales at Christies auction house to £1375
ARTIST
BIOGRAPHY
High up on a
wall near the corner of Stembrook and Castle Street, is a Dover Society plaque dedicated
to Dover artist William Burgess (1805-1861). Not to be confused with William
Burges, (1827–1881), one of the architects of the former Town Hall
refurbishment’s and extensions, this William is, arguably, Dover’s greatest
painter.
William was
born in Canterbury about 1805. From an early age, he was encouraged by his
uncle to draw. The uncle was in the coach building business in Orange Street,
in that city and he wanted to utilise his nephew’s prodigious talent to help
his business. After serving an apprenticeship with his uncle, William,
accompanied by his close friend, fellow artist, Thomas Sydney Cooper, set off
to travel around Europe.
To fund
their tour they planned to sell their work but were not very successful William
returned to England. Sydney Cooper, as he is better known, remained and
eventually became a famous artist. As for William, he settled in Dover in 1828
and married Harriet, a young lady from Deal. They settled first in a tiny
cottage in Woolcomber Street before eventually moving to 14 Stembrook with a
door for customers at 69 Castle Street.
Hoping for
commissions in drawing and painting picturesque landscapes of Dover, William
eked out a living giving art lessons. Some of his work was exhibited at the
Royal Academy and by the Royal Society of British Artists. One of his earliest
pieces is held by Dover Museum and is pencil sketch of St Martin-le-Grand dated
1829.
In 1844,
William opened the then state-of-the-arts Cosmorama, using 14 Stembrook as the
entrance. He placed his sketches and paintings of Dover in black frames behind
large convex lenses. The frames were specially constructed to prevent light,
other than that which was illuminating the picture, to enter. The illuminating
lamp was placed on the top of the frame so the onlooker would see the picture
as if being viewed through a window. The attraction proved very popular,
particularly to the town’s wealthy visitors, who also bought William’s
paintings and lithograph prints. The prints of his paintings of Shakespeare
Cliff in the Cosmorama were particularly popular such that it is the alley next
to his house was renamed Shakespeare Place.
(Source: doverhistorian.com/2013/07/05/william-burgess-artist/
)
ITEM
DESCRIPTION
Fantastic
original water colour painting by the renowned artist William
Burgess of Dover 1805-1861. Signed with the monogram W.B.
The painting
is labelled verso by ‘W. Burgess 1869’ – the person adding this label has read
the date incorrectly – please see the photographs which show the date on the
front of the painting is 1861, the last year of the William Burgess’s life.
The painting
depicts a street vista facing towards the market square at Dickens Corner in
Dover. The building which houses the current Lloyds Bank (Ashmead House) can be
seen at the end of the vista in the market square. Online maps indicate the
vista appears to be facing down King Street towards the market square.
The water
colour painting measures 335mm x 250mm and is excellent condition, practically
perfect condition considering its antique age. The frame measures 558mm x 474mm
and is in overall excellent condition.
EXTRA
INFORMATION
For examples
please add the following to an internet search for other example of Burges’s
work:
www christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/william-burgess-of-dover-canterbury-1805-1861-dover-5520437-details.aspx
William Burgess of Dover (Canterbury 1805-1861 Dover) An encampment in a park,
possibly France Price realised GBP 1,375
www .artnet.com/artists/william-burgess-of-dover/
www invaluable.com/artist/burgess-william-1805-mavgos8b5b/sold-at-auction-prices/
www artuk.org/discover/artists/burgess-william-18051861
OTHER
Item sold as
seen, returns permitted within 14 days, purchaser pays for return insured to
the value of the purchase.
William
Burgess of Dover 1805-1861