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Charles Robertson was born in Walton-on-Thames, England, but lived for a period of his life in Aix-en-Provence, southern France, and in Italy. Despite this he never lost his contacts with England, frequently sending works for exhibition at the Royal Watercolour Society and the Royal Academy. He must also have travelled extensively in northern Africa, for many of his subjects were set in Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and the Middle East. In these Orientalist paintings he dealt with the rituals of religion and warfare, as well as painting genre subjects set in cities and in the desert. A contemporary review of these works claimed that 'the varied textures of costly robes, turbans, tiles, carpets deserve all the praise which Mr Robertson has generally won for his treatment of similar themes.' The present group of watercolours and paintings is an interesting example of Robertson's devotion to Orientalist subjects and displays his innate interest in diverse cultures. The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem is an extraordinary work portraying Robertson's deep empathy for a different religion and its customs. A closer look at Flower market in Damascus shows us that Robertson was a genius at observing the atmosphere of a place and in analysing native customs. We can also see, in this painting, how much he varied his technique, using bodycolour to build up the flowers in the foreground, with the trees in a more typical watercolour behind them. Robertson began his artistic career as an oil-painter, only in the last decade of his life working with watercolours, a skill at which he became so accomplished that he was elevated to the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours after only five years. As a watercolourist, he was noted for his versatility and attention to detail, characteristics which show the stylistic influence of his friend Birket Foster (1825-1899). Robertson died at the height of his career, aged 47. A posthumous report in the Daily Graphic wrote of him: 'The exhibition of drawings by the late Charles Robertson at the Gallery of the Fine Art Society in Bond Street effectually demonstrates the loss the art world has sustained by his early death nearly a year ago.' The present group of watercolours were in the collection of Bridget M. Robertson, the artist's granddaughter.

Charles Robertson (British, 1844-1891)

The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem

Details

Charles Robertson (British, 1844-1891)
The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem
watercolour heightened with white on paper laid down on board
24¼ x 29 5/8 in. (61.6 x 75.3 cm.)

Provenance

The late Bridget M. Robertson, the artist's granddaughter.

Exhibited

London, Fine Art Society, 1892.

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.

Sale room notice

Lots 67-74 were in the collection of Bridget M. Robertson, the artist's granddaughter.

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