A 19th century coloured artwork for an illustration of "This is the Cock That Crowed in the Morn". By Herbert Sellen, the Canadian artist and illustrator (1876 - 1962).
Mounted on board. Sizes - Picture only: 15cm x 15cm. Mount: 18cm x 20cm. Pen & ink with watercolour.
Sellen, whilst on a visit to his daughter Mrs Phyllis Fryer at Old Bletchley in Buckinghamshire found that, because of the outbreak of war, he was unable to return to his Canadian home.
Instead he stayed at his daughter's home and soon became a familiar sight riding around the town on his racing cycle.
During the war he ran several art classes in Bletchley, as well as providing artwork for local newspapers. But his reputation had achieved a much wider renown, and the illustrations for The Story of Little Greedy - A salutary tale for the younger generation are just one example of his artistic talents.
After the war he continued to live at his daughter's address, and there he died, aged 86, in 1962.
(Info courtesy of mkheritage.org.uk)
See my listings for other artwork by Herbert Sellen.