River Estuary

Location

Country: Other
City: other locations abroad

This shallow landscape view is painted in soft hues of blue, green and ochre. The precise location of the peaceful river estuary is unconfirmed but the colours and scenery relate to Alexander Mann’s coastal views of Morocco. In particular, this painting shows a similar landscape to a view by Mann (sold through Christie’s in 2002) titled Tangiers over the marshes. Another example of Mann’s many landscape views of Tangier was purchased by the Government Art Collection in 2006. The collection also includes an English landscape view by the artist, titled The Road to Wittenham Clumps near Oxford.

Alexander Mann was born in Glasgow; the son of a business man. Aged just ten he became a pupil of Robert Greenlees. He then studied at the Glasgow School of Art and Académie Julian, Paris, before entering the atelier of Carolus-Duran in 1881. He exhibited in Glasgow, London and Paris (1879-93). Mann remained in Paris for 15 years, frequently visiting Scotland, and spent periods in Venice and Morocco. He concentrated on landscapes but also painted genre scenes during the 1880s. He became the first Glasgow artist to receive an Honourable Mention at the Paris Salon (1884). He settled in Hagbourne, Berkshire, before moving to Streatham in 1896. Mann was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 1893. He died in London, aged 55.

Places

North Africa, Morocco, Tangier

Subjects

landscape C19th, grass, bird, river, stone/rock, shore, estuary, wall

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Alexander Mann (1853 - 1908)

Title

River Estuary

Date

1885

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 41.50 cm, width: 136.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from the Fine Art Society, 1979

Inscription

Sdbr

Provenance

With Daniel Shackleton (fine art dealer) of Dundas Street, Edinburgh; from whom purchased by the Fine Art Society, London, in July 1974; from whom purchased by the Department of the Environment in 1979

GAC number

14375