The great red dragon and the woman clothed with the sun; and The Whore of Babylon

Details

Henry John Stock (1853-1930)
The great red dragon and the woman clothed with the sun; and The Whore of Babylon
both signed and dated '1902/ H.J. Stock' (lower right)
pencil and watercolour heightened with bodycolour on paper, one heightened with gum arabic
both 13 ½ x 9 ½ in. (34.3 x 24.1 cm.)
(2)

Provenance

The artist, from whom acquired by
Francis P. Osmaston, and by descent until
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 4 November 1994, lots 57 and 59, where purchased by the father of the present owner.

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Brought to you by

Clare Keiller

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Lot Essay

Both subjects are taken from the Book of Revelation. The first illustrates the 'woman clothed with the sun' who represents Israel and the Church and is about to give birth to a child who will rule the world, being chased into the wilderness by Satan in the form of a great red dragon. The second takes as it's subject the Whore of Babylon as described by St John. Both watercolours show the influence of William Blake's biblical watercolours painted for Thomas Butts in the 1800s.

Francis Osmaston (1857-1925) was a musician and author who supported several contemporary artists. These watercolours were part of a series of eight illustrations to Revelation which he purchased from Stock and which were sold in these Rooms, 4 November 1994.

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