Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
British Watercolors |
Catalog Number |
2000.026.005 |
Title |
Old London Bridge |
Artist |
Stewart, James Lawson |
Object Name |
painting |
Description |
Old London Bridge An original and realistic watercolor painting of a bridge and village scene. |
Provenance |
Purchased as part of the British watercolors collection 1966 / 67, in memory of Gloria Dougherty, Dorothy Logan, and Lilian Ross. James Lawson Stewart (British: 1841-1929), flourished from 1883-1889. "James Lawson Stewart was born at Southwark, England on 3 July 1841 and was christened at Christ Church, Southwark, on 30 January 1842. He died on 16 December 1929. His father, James Stewart, was a baker, and his mother Eliza Lawson took over the family business when his father died in 1850. The family lived at 11 Cross Street, Christchurch, Southwark. He married Clara Ann Lawson on 9 April 1868 at the Parish Church of St Mary, Lambeth. Both were registered as living at Hambleton Terrace. James' father was listed as Baker - deceased. Clara's father William Lawson listed as Gentleman. Witnesses at the marraige were William S. Lawson and Fanny Kemp Lawson. In the 1871 and 1881 census returns, James Lawson Stewart's Occupation is listed as "Architect and Surveyor". By the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census returns, he is listed as "Artist in Watercolours" and in addition in 1901 he is listed as "Own Account at Home" under Occupation. "In 1926 and again in January 1934 a series of cigarette cards were issued called "Historic Places from Dickens Classics" by The Spinet House [R. & J. Hill Ltd. London and HY Archer & Co. of Birmingham]. The set consisted of 50 numbered cards and were issued in two sizes 3 1/8" x 2 5/8" and 2 9/16" x 1 1/2". The Cigarette Card Issues of R. & J. Hill Ltd - issued in 1942 by the Cartophilic Society of Great Britain Ltd and reprinted by The London Cigarette Card C. Ltd - states that the "Fronts printed in three-colour letterpress, from half-tone blocks, white margins. … Printed by Ripley & Co., London." The larger size card has the additional note "This series can be found with Nos. 1-26 in small numerals, as well as from 1-50 in larger numerals." The first card in the series, a portrait of Charles Dickens was not by James Lawson Stewart, the other 49 images are by James Lawson Stewart. However he is not acknowledged as the artist. But on some cards his distinctive monogram signature is visible." "The following Institutions or private collections have paintings by James Lawson Stewart: Museum of London, Bishopsgate Institute, Southwark Art Collection, Museum of Croydon, UK Government Art Collection, Private Collections." |
Medium |
watercolor on paper |
Dimensions |
H-24.25 W-17.75 inches |
Catalog date |
2000-02-13 |