Lot Essay
A central figure in art education at the end of the 19th century, Crane was distinguished as a painter, decorator, designer, book illustrator, writer and socialist. Several of his children's books found widespread popularity, especially the Picture Books produced for Messrs. Routledge. The Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours was formerly the Old Watercolour Society, founded by Dr. Monro and a group of like-minded watercolourists in 1804, when they felt that their work was inadequately shown at the Royal Academy. It gained its Royal title in 1881.