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Lot Essay
Helen Allingham's large collection of sketch books contained numerous studies of flowers, trees and shrubs. Some were annotated with a date and location. These careful studies from nature served as a reference from which the artist could draw when she was in the process of completing a picture.
From the early 1880s, Allingham always began her paintings on the spot, directly from the main subject, although she often delayed actual completion for as long as a year. This enabled her to view her work with a fresh eye and to give some thought to the finer detail which she gleaned from her sketch books.
Such was the appeal of her watercolour studies that they sold at exhibitions during the 1880s and 1890s alongside her finished watercolours.
Christie's are grateful to Annabel Watts for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.
From the early 1880s, Allingham always began her paintings on the spot, directly from the main subject, although she often delayed actual completion for as long as a year. This enabled her to view her work with a fresh eye and to give some thought to the finer detail which she gleaned from her sketch books.
Such was the appeal of her watercolour studies that they sold at exhibitions during the 1880s and 1890s alongside her finished watercolours.
Christie's are grateful to Annabel Watts for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.