On Ebay
Starting bid £135.00
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Ended: 05-Oct-08 20:33:01 BST
Postage: £18.00
Item location: Kent, United Kingdom
History: 0 bids
This auction is for a large and extensive coastal view by the artist GARMAN MORRIS, who flourished circa 1900-1930 and who has fully signed the painting in the lower right hand corner and entitled it Babbcombe Bay in the lower left. The painting depicts a view of a sweeping coastline with a sandy bay to the right, with boats drawn up onto the beach and a jetty jutting out to sea, with a couple of sailing boats alongside. There are three more yachts out to sea. The technique and colouring of this painting are very reminscent of the Devon views of John Shapland.
Babbacombe is a small seaside resort just outside Torquay but, according to an Encyclopaedia published in 1932 is remembered for a more gruesome reason. In 1885 John Lee was chargd with murdering his employer, Miss Keyse, in her house there. He swore his innocence, but was found guilty and sentenced to death. Three times the hangman tried to execute him, but each time was unable to do so. Lee, therefore, was kept in prison until released in 1907.
According to Jeremy Wood's useful book 'Hidden Talents' -
'Garman Morris was a painter in watercolour of marines and coastal scenes. This prolific artist appears to have painted also under the name of G. M. Avondale. The subjects were mostly fishing boats or shore scenes and were painted along the South Coast, with some Cornish and East Anglian views. Garman Morris exhibited two watercolours at Elands Art Gallery in Exeter in 1906 and 1907, entitled 'The Coast near Ilfracombe' and 'St. Michael's Mount'.
Some of his work was made into prints and C. W. Faulkner and Co. published some coastal scenes as postcards. The larger works are usually signed in full, whereas the smaller sketches are often initialled.'
The painting is framed with washlines and is framed in a 3/4" (2cm) gilt frame. It is ready to hang.
Image size: 19 1/2" x 9 1/2" - 49.5cm x 24cm
Frame size: 26 1/4" x 17" - 66.5cm x 43cm
Medium: Watercolour/gouache
Condition: Excellent. The mount and frame are also in very good condition.