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Watercolor/Pen&Ink - Signed "B. Foster" Myles Birket Foster" Perhaps?

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Paintings1978 of 2393old, unknown artistTwo very large vintage paintings signed Andre' 24 x 33"
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    Posted 9 years ago

    Efesgirl
    (1017 items)

    I bought this yesterday for a buck. Oak octagonal frame, burgundy velour paper covering the back . Old, engraved hanger. B. Foster relates to Myles Birket Foster, but I know this is not one of his watercolors because the signature is wrong. I think it's done by a follower of Foster. The tiny initials "CB"(I think it's CB) can be seen along the edge of the watercolor. This does not look like a print to me but rather an engraving. I need expert advice about that, though.

    Jump in if you know anything.

    I think it's beautiful.

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    Comments

    1. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 9 years ago
      Looks hand tinted, I love stuff like this. :)
    2. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 9 years ago
      katherinescollections: That's what I think, too. You can see the paper fibers. This beautiful work of art was sitting in a cardboard box alongside alot of insignificant prints. I saw the oak frame first, then turned it over and saw the paper. It could still be an 1800s piece.
    3. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 9 years ago
      Hi OAS - if you could see this in person, you'd be able to see the rough texture of the paper. It almost looks like pen and ink/hand colored. I need to take it to someone who knows about this stuff. I paid a whole dollar for it, and the frame is worth more than that. :) I am surprised at the lack of fading.
    4. kyratango kyratango, 9 years ago
      I do think it is really Myles Birket Foster:
      http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/myles-birket-foster-192
      In first paragraph they speak about his vignettes of the seasons.

      And there is an illustration of one of his engravings, with signature:
      https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myles_Birket_Foster2.jpg

      Your has watercolor embellishment (in french, gravure aquarellée).

      The more I see it, the more I love!!!

    5. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 9 years ago
      Good information, kyratango, thanks for sharing. :)
    6. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 9 years ago
      OMG, kyratango....you're right...I looked at several different sites but did not find that exact signature. I found artist signature pages which show him using only initials. If this is a genuine B. Foster, then it's worth a small fortune. His artwork is very sought after....yikes.....!!!!! I wonder why this particular watercolor is not to be found anywhere on the net. That's why I figured it wasn't really one of his works. You're a real sleuth! THANKS
    7. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 9 years ago
      OAS - I take my close ups through a jeweler's eyeglass. I have a special one which gives a wider view. I never imagined this to actually be genuine but, now that I have looked at the pages kyratango found, I think I need to get this looked into even further. Thanks for your input!
    8. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 9 years ago
      Thanks to all!!
    9. kyratango kyratango, 9 years ago
      An interesting reading here about colored illustrations in 19th century:
      http://www.victorianweb.org/art/illustration/tech1.html
      It appears that, even in books, some were hand colored!
    10. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 9 years ago
      OAS & krya - anything helps! Yes, there are many old books with hand colored illustrations. This picture, however, is a bit befuddling. I've emailed the V&A Museum in London and sent photos. We'll see what happens!
    11. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 9 years ago
      Keep us updated, Bonnie, I am eager to hear what happens. :)
    12. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 9 years ago
      Everybody - V&A say it can take up to 21 days to get a reply.
    13. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 9 years ago
      Got an answer from the V&A Museum, London. I replied and told them who B. Foster was and that he had created a series of these for the four seasons. I am very surprised the museum did NOT know one of their own! Oh well, here's the reply:
      Thank you for your enquiry.

      Your artwork is not a pen and ink drawing but rather appears to be a wood engraving, which has been hand-coloured with watercolour. According to my colleagues in the Prints Section, the engraving can be no earlier than roughly 1820, as the technique of colouring wood engravings was not widely used before that date.

      I'm afraid I have been unable to identify the artist 'B. Foster', but unfortunately, the names printers and engravers are not so well recorded as those of artists working in other mediums.

      I am sorry not to be able to offer more information.

      Yours sincerely,

      Louise Cooling
      Assistant Curator, Paintings
    14. kyratango kyratango, 9 years ago
      At least V&A answered in a short time :-) Even if they didn't identify Foster, they give an around date.
      Here in France, they don't consider public questions...

    15. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 9 years ago
      kyratango, I sent another email back to further the enquiry, so I am hoping there comes a bit more info from them. I'm just two hours from the French border, but have never been there. Myles Foster was an engraver, along with his other talents as an artist, so I am really curious about who actually created them, especially now since I have two of them!
    16. kyratango kyratango, 9 years ago
      Hi Efe! Hoping you'll get some more infos on Foster!
      You never crossed the French/Dutch border? You did well, if for treasures hunting... You found much more interesting things on your side, ;-)
    17. Georgie, 8 years ago
      Hi, Efe. I just bought the set of four seasons, including one the same as yours with the same frame. One of them has the signature B Foster, but the other three are signed BF. The BF is not the same as on other pictures I have seen by Myles Birket Foster. I bought them at an antique market in Bavaria, Germany. There are obviously several sets of these then. Any more needs?
    18. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      Georgie - I saw a set today at a small antique & brocante market here in the Netherlands. The "Autumn" and "Winter" prints are signed with only "BF", the others with "B. Foster". I think these were a bit smaller than the ones I have, and the frames were different. The dealer wouldn't let me buy just the two I needed. Boo hoo!
    19. Georgie, 8 years ago
      They are beautiful aren't they? I paid 35 Euro for my set. There is a sticker on the back with the name 'Ad Art Decor Muenchen', and a stamped number 65120. The last sentence in my first message should have read 'Any more news?'
    20. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      Georgie - yes, they are! I paid 8,50 Euro for both - one from a flea market and the other from a second hand shop.
      BF and B. Foster are the same person, judging from everything I've read.

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