'Rivals to Blondin'

Details

William Henry Knight (1823-1863)
'Rivals to Blondin'
signed and dated 'W. H. Knight. 1862.' (lower left) and further inscribed 'No. 2 Subject "Rivals to Blondin" W. H. Knight No 1. Claude Villas Love Walk Grove Lane Camberwell' (on the reverse)
oil on board
18 3/8 x 24 in. (46.7 x 61 cm.)

Provenance

with Spencer S.A., London.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Jean Gravlet, alias Charles Blondin, was christened 'The Daredevil Wirewalker' following his celebrated tightrope crossing of the Niagara Falls. In 1861 he appeared at Crystal Palace; perhaps inspiring Knight's portrayal of incipient daredevils. Blondin died in 1897, having never suffered a serious accident in 66 years of stunts.

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