Briton Riviere

Agnew's, London; Private collection Briton Riviere, R.A. 1840-1920 SIR LANCELOT, A BLOODHOUND signed with monogram and dated 1888 l.r.; titled, signed and inscribed with the artist's address on a label attached to the reverse oil on canvas 57.5 by 50cm., 22¾ by 19¾in. Original canvas. Some areas of craquelure predominantly to the darker areas of pigment; overall work appears generally sound. It is difficult to read the surface conclusively under ultraviolet light but there appear to be no signs of retouching. Held under perspex in original gilt plaster frame; unexamined out of frame.

Briton Riviere, R.A. (1840-1920) The Sheepstealer signed with monogram and dated '18/84' (lower right) oil on canvas 55 x 92 in. (139.7 x 233.7 cm.) Sir John Aird, Bt. (1833-1911), and thence by decent to the present owner. J.F. Boyes, 'The Private Art Collections of London: Mr John Aird's, in Hyde Park Terrace', Art Journal, 1891, pp. 138-9. London, Royal Academy, 1885, no. 24. The Sheepstealer was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1885 and was bought by Sir John Aird, Bt., M.P. (1833-1911), in whose family it has remained until the present day. Aird was a wealthy contractor whose career embraced the removal of the Crystal Palace to Sydenham, the completion of the Manchester Ship Canal, and the building of the great dam at Aswan. Aird's achievements brought him a baronetcy and a seat in Parliament. His handsome house at 14 Hyde Park Terrace was furnished with a fine collection of modern British pictures and he was often referred to as 'St John Aird of the Large Heart' for his support of artists, from whom he commissioned works. Like the Liverpool ship owner F.R. Leyland, he tended to favour large imposing works of obvious importance, but whereas Leyland chose the Pre-Raphaelite and Aesthetic masters, Aird's taste was more academic. Leighton, Poynter, Alma-Tadema, Orchardson, Waterhouse, Marcus Stone and Luke Fildes were represented in the collection in addition to Dicksee, whose Chivalry (sold in these Rooms, 13 December 2012, lot 11 (£577,250)). The bulk of his collection passed to his son Sir John Renton Aird, Bt, and was subsequently dispersed at his sale at Christie's in 1935. The sale included Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema's The Roses of Heliogabalus and The Finding of Moses.

Briton Riviere, R.A., R.E. (1840-1920) The lions roaring after their prey do seek their meat from God signed with a mongram (lower right) oil on panel 10¾ x 16½ in. (27.4 x 42 cm.) Messrs. Gooden & Fox, London. Charles Winn Esq, 1917 The First Lord Leverhulme. The Collection of the Lady Lever Art Gallery, 1958.

Briton Riviere, RA (British, 1840-1920) To the hills signed with monogram and dated '1901.4' (lower left), signed and inscribed with title on artist's label (on reverse) oil on canvas 112 x 163cm (44 1/8 x 64 3/16in). PROVENANCE: with M. Newman, London Sale, Bonhams London, 26 March 2002, lot 101 Private collection, UK EXHIBITED: London, Royal Academy, 1901, No. 179

Briton Riviere, RA (British, 1840-1920) To the hills signed with monogram and dated '1901.4' (lower left), signed and inscribed with title on artist's label (on reverse) oil on canvas 44 x 64 3/16 in. (112 x 163 cm.) PROVENANCE: with M. Newman, London Sale, Bonhams London, 26 March 2002, lot 101 Private collection, UK EXHIBITED: London, Royal Academy, 1901, No. 179