CLAUDE SPERO WHITEHALL & THE HORSEGUARDS c.1890 VERY FINE ORIGINAL SIGNED WATERCOLOUR, PROVENANCE FROM BONHAMS AUCTION HOUSE AND FROM A LEADING LONDON GALLERY.

Exquisitely detailed antique watercolour painting by French artist Claude Spero, depicting the hustle and bustle along Whitehall near Horseguards Parade in London around 1890.

Bears a Bonhams sale label, a Fine Art Trade Guild framer's label, and a stamp on the reverse of the mount for The Parker Gallery, Albemarle Street, London W1

You can almost hear the wheels of the horse drawn carriages...the clatter of the motorised trolley car...the general hubbub of the throng of people...even the cries of the street urchin selling newspapers...

This painting provides a unique snapshot of life and the different social classes in the late Victorian era, depicting ladies dressed in their finery, soldiers and gentlemen conversing with one another, and workers going about their business. It also shows the imposing buildings along Whitehall, and Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster silhouetted against the grey London skyline...

This watercolour is of such quality that it was sold by Bonhams of London in 2011 for a pretty penny, so it's provenance is cast iron.

This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of art history of the highest quality at a fraction of the price that swish London galleries or savvy dealers would be asking for this artwork.

About the artist - CLAUDE SPERO

Claude Spero was a French artist working primarily on the South coast of France in the late 19th and early 20th Century, so this painting of London is somewhat of a rarity compared to the artist's usual output of scenes from the French Riviera. 

His work has been sold by leading auction houses such as Christies and Bonhams. 

Condition Report

This watercolour has strong, vibrant colours and no discernible fading, with one or two age spots. There is some cockling to the paper. It is framed, mounted and glazed to a high standard in a gilt strip frame encased in a larger gilt wood frame. All in all, a visually impressive piece which would make a most eloquent accompaniment to any interior, both period or contemporary. It would also make the perfect gift for anyone with a love of London and its history.

• Image Size: 18 x 26 cm
• Framed Size: 32 x 39 cm
• Painted: c 1899
• Signed by the artist.

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