Painting is signed “H. Gritten” in the lower center. Spectacular depiction of one of most picturesque town on the middle Rhein was painted in the mid-19th century by British artist Henry Gritten (1818 –1873) who traversed the world extensively in pursuit of capturing its beauty on canvas. This artwork with a magnificent combination of light, color and atmosphere of the story is a testament to his giftedness and talent. Careful attention to detail in the foreground, including human figures, a horseman, merchant ships with sailors, and architectural elements, brings the scene to life, thereby drawing the viewer into the subject depicted on the canvas. One cannot help but marvel at the way Gritten conveys depth and volume through his use of various shades and the subtle haze of perspective, creating a sense of distance and space that is captivating. The warm glow of the sunset on a hot sunny day further enhances the visual impact of the painting. This artwork invites the viewer to briefly travel back in time and appreciate all the beauty of a bygone era. Antique oil painting on “C.E. Clifford artists’ colourman” canvas, framed with nice original age carved wood frame of Black Forest type, signed.
Size app.: 46 x 62 cm (roughly 18.1 x 24.4 in), frame is 59 x 73 cm (roughly 23.2 x 28.7 in). Very good well preserved ready to hang condition, age wear. Please study good resolution images for cosmetic condition. In person actual painting may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 4 kg is going to measure 6 kg packed for shipment.
Gritten was the son of a London painting dealer. He studied art and was on friendly terms with David Roberts and other leading artists of the period. He began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1835, and during the next 10 years 12 of his pictures were hung at its exhibitions. He was a more frequent exhibitor at the British Institution and had some of his pictures hung there between 1836 and 1848. In 1848 Gritten went to the United States in Brooklyn and exhibited at the American Art Union (1850 to 1851) and the National Academy of Design (1850 to 1854). Gritten painted two New Hampshire scenes which were exhibited at the National Academy of Design: Kearsarge Mountain (1850) and Recollection of New Hampshire Scenery (1851). In 1853 Gritten arrived in Australia, initially trying prospecting at the Bendigo goldfields, but soon resumed painting in Victoria and Tasmania. A View of Hobart (1857) by Gritten hangs at the National Library of Australia at Canberra. He was represented at the first exhibition of the Victorian Academy of Art held at Melbourne in 1870. He died suddenly at Melbourne leaving a widow and four children in poor circumstances. Gritten was a capable painter of his time who had a hard struggle in Australia. He is represented in the National Gallery of Victoria and Connell collections, Melbourne, the Mitchell Library, Sydney, and the Commonwealth National Library, Canberra.