Baghdad

Details

Arthur Melville, A.R.S.A., R.S.W., R.W.S. (1855-1904)
Baghdad
signed, inscribed and dated 'Arthur Melville/Bagdad [sic]/1882' (lower left)
watercolour and bodycolour
13½ x 19¾ in. (34.2 x 50.2 cm.)

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. Notice to Buyers Resident in Scotland Payment and collections may be made immediately following the end of the sale until 7.00pm. Collections may be made on Friday, 27 October 2000 from 9.00 am until 1.00 pm, after which all lots purchased by Scottish residents will be transported free of charge to either our Glasgow office, tel 44(0)141 332 8134 or to our Edinburgh office, tel 44(0)131 225 4756 where they will be available from 9.00 am on Monday, 30 October. Notice to Buyers outside Scotland Purchases made by buyers with addresses outside Scotland will be transferred to Christie's, 8 King Street, London SW1, for collection from noon on Monday, 30 October 2000. Purchases are only insured for a period of seven working days following the sale.

Lot Essay

Having studied in Edinburgh at the Royal Scottish Academy Schools and in Paris at the Academie Julian, Melville visited the artist colony at Grez-sur-Loing where he was influenced by the plein-air work of Bastien Lepage. In the Autumn of 1880 he embarked on a two year visit to the Middle East, arriving at Baghdad in April 1882. Fascinated by the shadowed streets and courtyards and mysterious bazaars, Melville sketched tirelessly, developing his characteristic 'blottesque' technique which established him as the leading watercolourist of his generation.

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