THE POSTHUMOUS STUDIO SALE OF 1934.

The contents of Annie’s London studio was sold by auction at Christie’s of London on 9 Feb 1934 – ‘the remaining works of the late Annie L. Swynnerton, A.R.A. and the artistic effects of the studio removed from 1a The Avenue, 76 Fulham Road, S. W. 3.‘, along with some ‘modern pictures and drawings from other sources.‘

There were 274 paintings, mostly unframed and unfinished, plus two drawings and another painting by Annie in the non-studio sale section.

Seven of these paintings can be matched with works known from other sources …

… four from auction sales and present location unknown …

A scanned copy of the catalogue is available here: archive.org, as a pdf here: PDF, and individual page images below.

ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPT:

Lots 1 to 55 were unconnected with the studio sale, but by coincidence also included one work by Annie, lot 18.

18  A CHILD, in a white frock  Unframed  16½ in. by 13¼ in.

Lots 56-157 were all from Annie’s studio, and included 275 paintings, mostly unfinished, two drawings and a small statuette which the text says was ‘by Annie’. The remaining lots were paintings by other artists found in her studio, as well as Annie’s jars, easels, frames and her palette.

The following are Sold by Order of the Executors of ANNIE L. SWYNNERTON, A.R.A., deceased, and have been removed from 1A The Avenue, 76 Fulham Road, S. W. 3.

WORKS BY ANNIE L. SWYNNERTON, A.R.A.

DRAWINGS

56  IN THE GARDEN OF BARBEREINI; and A STUDY OF A MODEL WITH STAFF – charcol – (two)  2

PICTURES

57  CUPID AND PSYCHE  60 in. by 43 in.  1524 x 1092 mm (1.66 m²).

58  THE SOUL’S JOURNEY  39 in. by 63 in.  991 x 1600 mm (1.59 m²).  Exhibited at the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.A. Exhibited Manchester, 1932.

59  THE GULF OF SPEZIA  39 in. by 25 in.  991 x 635 mm (0.63 m²).  Exhibited at Aberdeen. Now housed by Aberdeen Art Gallery.

60  A WISE VIRGIN  52 in. by 37 in.  1321 x 940 mm (1.24 m²).

61  A LADY WITH HER CHILDREN, in a field  39 in. by 34 in.  991 x 864 mm (0.86 m²).

62  PORTRAIT OF MRS. CHARLES HUNTER, seated in a landscape  35½ in. by 31 in.  902 x 787 mm (0.71 m²).  Exhibited at Doncaster.

63  THE FORSAKEN WIFE  51½ in. by 21¼ in.  1308 x 540 mm (0.71 m²).

64  THE BROTHERS: Two boys with a parrot  35½ in. by 27½ in.  902 x 699 mm (0.63 m²).

65  MASTER AND MAN, 1905  In a painted oval  35¼ in. by 25½ in.  895 x 648 mm (area within oval 0.46 m²).  Exhibited at the New Gallery, 1908.

66  “WHERE SHATTERED MOUNTAINS LIE”  25 in. by 49 in.  635 x 1245 mm (0.79 m²).  Exhibited at Aberdeen, 1931  Exhibited at Manchester.

67  THE LETTER  39½ in. by 18½ in.  1003 x 470 mm (0.47 m²).

68  PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN, in a brown coat and vest  29½ in. by 24½ in.  749 x 622 mm (0.47 m²).

69  THE LIZARD, 1874  25½ in. by 29 in.  648 x 737 mm (0.48 m²).

70  A DISTANT VIEW OF THE SABINES  22¾ in. by 27¼ in.  578 x 692 mm (0.40 m²).  Exhibited at Huddersfield.

71  THE SISTERS: DAUGHTERS OF LORD PONSONBY  26 in. by 26 in.  660 x 660 mm (0.44 m²).

72  AN EXTENSIVE LANDSCAPE, with hills in the distance  18½ in. by 24¾ in.  470 x 629 mm (0.30 m²).  Exhibited at Manchester.

73  PORTRAIT OF HENRY JAMES, ESQ., in dark coat; red curtain background  22 in. by 19½ in.  559 x 495 mm (0.28 m²).  Exhibited at Manchester, 1932. Auctioned Christie’s, 3 Sep 2008, “The artist’s studio sale; Christie’s, London, 9 February 1934, lot 73.”

74  “A STORM-TOSSED WILLOW FEELS THE SPRING”  19½ in. by 16 in.  495 x 406 mm (0.20 m²).  Exhibited at Manchester, 1933.

75  A VIEW FROM TUSCANY, TOWARDS ROME  13¼ in. by 19 in.  337 x 483 mm (0.16 m²).  Exhibited at Doncaster, 1931.

76  PORTRAIT OF MRS. CHRISTOPHER TONKS, in dark dress, seated, her right hand to her head  15½ in. by 12¾ in.  394 x 324 mm (0.13 m²).

77  A MOUNTAINOUS LANDSCAPE AT FRASCATTI; and A LANDSCAPE STUDY – (two)  2

78  TWILIGHT: A NEOPOLITAN WOMAN – 1876; and A BOY IN A NIGHTDRESS – (two)  2

Unframed

79  THE BAY OF NAPLES, 1883, a woman and a child looking over a stone wall on the Bay  20 in. by 50 in.  508 x 1270 mm (0.65 m²). Assumed to be the same as “Staring Out To Sea, Bay of Naples,” auctioned Sotheby’s, 23 Oct 1996, lot 322, “49x19in,” signed and dated 1883.

80  PORTRAIT OF MISS LOUISA GARRETT ANDERSON, C.B.E., seated at a table reading a book  31 in. by 32 in.  787 x 813 mm (0.64 m²).

81  GATHERING TULIPS  24½ in. by 30 in.  622 x 762 mm (0.47 m²).

82  PORTRAIT OF DAME MILLICENT FAWCETT, in academical gown  29 in. by 24 in.  737 x 610 mm (0.45 m²).  Currently (Jul 2022) in dealer’s collection. Listed on this web site as ‘Portrait of Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett (Westminster).’

83  A VIEW OF THE COAST, ISLE OF MAN  19½ in. by 37 in.  495 x 940 mm (0.47 m²).

84  A TUSCANY GIRL  23¼ in. by 17¾ in.  591 x 451 mm (0.27 m²).

85  PORTRAIT OF A LADY, wearing a bead necklace, 1909  21½ in. by 17¼ in.  546 x 438 mm (0.24 m²).

86  SISTERS  20 in. by 15¾ in.  508 x 400 mm (0.20 m²).

87  A GARDEN AT HILL, ESSEX; and SAND DUNES – (two)  2

88  PORTRAIT OF A LADY, in white dress with red bows; and A LADY, holding a letter – (two)  2

PICTURES

Unfinished and Unstretched

89  AN ANGEL OF MERCY  Arched top – 155 in. by 107 in.  3937 x 2718 mm.

90  A ROMAN MOTHER  Arched top – 124 in. by 84 in.  3150 x 2134 mm.

91  MRS. CHARLES HUNTER AS “QUEEN ELIZABETH”  113 in. by 75 in.  2870 x 1905 mm (5.47 m²).

From Lubeck, P (1920) The Letters of Henry James, vol. 2, pp194-5.

August 27th, 1911 … Mrs Swynnerton is doing an historical picture for a decorative competition the embellishment of the Chelsea Town Hall, I believe: Queen Elizabeth taking refuge (at Chelsea) under an oak during a thunder-storm, and she finds the great oak here and Mrs. Hunter, in a wonderful Tudor dress and headgear and red wig, to be admirably, though too beautifully, the Queen: with the big canvas set up, out of doors, by the tree, where her marvellous model still finds time, on top of everything, to pose, hooped and ruffled and decorated, and in a most trying queenly position …

92  A STUDY OF A LADY; and A WOMAN LYING ON THE GRASS – 1887 – (two)  2

93  THE YELLOW FAN; and HEAD OF A GIRL – (two)  2

94  STUDIES OF FEMALE MODELS; PORTRAIT OF A MAN, holding a scroll, by C. Jongh, 1879; and PORTRAIT OF A LADY – (three)  3   This appears to be a non-Annie painting included in the sale of her works, presumably found in her studio. There were several artists names Jongh, all whom usually painted architectural scenes. The most famous was Claude de Jongh (c. 1605-1663).

95  STUDIES OF A DOG AND CATS; PARHAM PARK, SUSSEX; and two other studies – (four)  4

96  A STUDY OF HILLS; A WINDING STREAM; A CORNFIELD; A STUDY OF HILLS; ROCKS, ISLE OF MAN – (five)  5

97  THE RAINBOW; LOW TIDE; and THREE OTHER STUDIES OF LANDSCAPE AND SKY – (five)  5

98  A BOY LOOKING OUT; HEAD OF A GIRL SINGING; A WOMAN ASLEEP; and STUDIES OF NAKED BOYS – (five)  5

99  THE FRUIT GATHERER; A MAN IN ARMOUR; and THREE STUDIES OF PEASANT GIRLS – (five)  5

100  STUDIES OF FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE – (six)  6

101  STUDIES OF FOLIAGE, SEASCAPES, ETC. – (six)  6

102  STUDIES OF FIGURE SUBJECTS AND DRAPERY – (seven)  7

103  STUDIES OF FOLIAGE, FLOWERS, RABBIT, ETC. – (eight)  8

104  STUDIES OF A FEMALE BATHER; NUDE CHILDREN; A GIRL SINGING; and three other studies – (nine)  9

105  A STUDY OF A HORSE; A STUDY OF MRS. CHARLES HUNTER; LANDSCAPE STUDIES, ETC. – (nine)  9

106  ITALIAN LANDSCAPES, LAKE SCENES, ETC. – (nine)  9

107  LANDSCAPE STUDIES, FIGURE STUDIES, ETC. – (fourteen)  14

108  THE CHARMER  120 in. by 85 in.  3048 x 2159 mm (6.58 m²).

109  THE REAPER AND THE ANGEL  54½ in. by 92 in.  1384 x 2337 mm (3.23 m²).

110  A PONY IN A FIELD AT BROOKLANDS  68½ in. by 56 in.  1740 x 1422 mm (2.47 m²).

111  VENUS RISING FROM THE SEA  64 in. by 50¼ in.  1626 x 1276 mm (2.07 m²).

112  SPRINGTIME NEAR SPEZIA  38 in. by 19½ in.  965 x 495 mm (0.48 m²).

113  A STUDY FOR “QUEEN ELIZABETH”  26 in. by 36 in.  660 x 914 mm (0.60 m²). See note for lot 91.

114  PORTRAIT OF MRS. CHARLES HUNTER AS “QUEEN ELIZABETH” – a study for the large picture  35 in. 25 in.  889 x 635 mm (0.56 m²). See note for lot 91.

115  A BOY, in a blue dress with white collar  20 in. by 15¾ in.  508 x 400 mm (0.20 m²).

116  COAST SCENES IN THE ISLE OF MAN – a pair  19½ in. by 35 in.  495 x 889 mm (0.44 m²).  2

117  A WATER CARRIER; and AN ITALIAN WOMAN – (two)  2

118  STUDIES OF CHILDREN; and A FISHERGIRL – (two)  2

119  A SCENE IN THE ISLE OF MAN, with peasant and two geese; and A HILLY STREAM – (two)  2

120  A STUDY OF A GENTLEMAN; and A CHILD WITH FRUIT – (two)  2

121  A STUDY OF AN OLD LADY, with mob cap; and A STUDY OF A LADY, in red shawl – (two)  2

122  STUDIES OF TWO GIRLS’ HEADS – (two)  2

123  A GIRL, with long hair; and HEAD OF A GIRL – (two)  2

124  HEAD OF A LADY; and A CHILD – on panel – (two)  2

125  BREAKERS, ISLE OF MAN; and ROCKS, ISLE OF MAN – (two)  2

126  A WOODLAND STUDY; and A STUDY FOR “VENUS RISING FROM THE SEA” – two –  2

127  THE WEAVER; and A MOTHER AND CHILDREN – (two)  2

128  A STUDY FOR “VENUS RISING FROM THE SEA,”; and A FEMALE MODEL, reclining – (two)  2

129  A STUDY OF CLOUDS; and STUDIES OF FOLIAGE AND BLOSSOMS – (three)  3

130  A GARDEN AT HILL, ESSEX; A VIEW FROM HILL, ESSEX and A LANDSCAPE STUDY – (three)  3

131  A STUDY IN KENT; BLUEBELLS; and A VALLEY SCENE – (three)  3

132  A VIEW IN KENT; A GARDEN SCENE; and A GOAT – (three)  3

133  A PATHWAY; and TWO LANDSCAPE STUDIES – (three)  3

134  NEAR THE SEA; SPRINGTIME; and A STUDY OF A BOY – (three)  3

135  A STUDY FOR THE COSTUME OF “QUEEN ELIZABETH”; A STUDY OF A CHILD; and A GIRL WITH A LAMB – (three)  3 See note for lot 91.

136  A STUDY OF FEMALE FIGURES; A STUDY FOR “THE ANGEL OF MERCY”; and another study – (three)  3

137  LAKE NEMI; A STUDY OF CLOUDS; and NEAR CAPRI – (three)  3

138  BLUEBELLS; A STREAM WITH SHEEP; and STUDIES OF FOLIAGE – (four)  4

139  APPLE BLOSSOM AND CHILDREN’S STUDIES; A LANDSCAPE STUDY; A STUDY FOR “STORM SWEPT WILLOW”; and A PEACOCK – (four)  4

140  A STUDY FOR A LADY; HEAD OF A LADY; A CHILD PADDLING; and HEAD OF A LADY – (four)  4

141  AT CAPRI; A STUDY AT HILL, ESSEX; A STUDY OF TREES; and A SKY STUDY – (four)  4

142  NYMPHS IN A GLADE; STUDIES FOR “ELIZABETH AND HER PONY”; and A FOAL – (four)  4

143  THE LATE HON. MRS. BARING, seated; WILD FLOWERS; A STUDY OF STEPS; and A STUDY OF TREES – (four)  4

144  BLUEBELLS; A TREE; A TERRIER; and A STUDY OF DRAPERY – (four)  4

145  SPRINGTIME AT BROOKLANDS; IN THE GARDEN; A CHILD AT A FOUNTAIN; and A STUDY OF HANDS – (four)  4

146  A FISHERMAN, PORTO D’ANZIO – on panel; A MOTHER AND CHILD – on panel; A STUDY OF A HEAD; and IN THE GARDEN – (four)  4

147  A BAY SCENE; and three other studies of flowers and landscapes – (five)  5  Error in the description, four paintings being detailed, but also stated as being five items in total.

148  THE DEPARTURE; A STUDY FOR “REAPER AND THE ANGEL”; THE DRAWING ROOM; THE BALCONY; A STUDY OF BLOSSOMS – (five)  5

149  A BUTTERCUP FIELD; FIGURE STUDIES; A GOAT; A STUDY OF A DOG, ETC. – (five)  5

150  A MOTHER AND CHILD – on panel; A PEASANT WOMAN – on panel; STUDIES OF HANDS, ETC. – (five)  5

151  SACRED LOVE, after TITIAN – on panel; ASSISI; IN THE WOODS – on panel; and four other studies – (seven)  7

152  A STUDY FOR JOAN OF ARC; A GIRL GATHERING WILD FLOWERS; and A TOWN IN ITALY – (three)  3

FRAMED

Unfinished

153  A STUDY FOR THE LAMBTON CHILDREN  80 in. by 59½ in.  Exhibited at Manchester.  2032 x 1511 mm (3.07 m²).

154  A GIRL, in striped frock, seated, 1878  19 in. by 15½ in.  483 x 394 mm (0.19 m²).

155  A MOORLAND PONY; and A SIDE CANAL, VENICE – unfinished – (two)  2

156  STUDIES FOR “THE TEMPLE OF LOVE”; A VENETIAN COLONNADE – (three)  3

157  MOONLIGHT, CAPRI; A CHILD, in white dress; NEAR ASSISI; and A MAN’S HEAD – on slate – (four)  4

WORKS BY OTHER ARTISTS

DRAWINGS

158  PORTRAIT OF MRS. SWYNNERTON, when a child, in the centre with her two sisters, in blue frocks – Circular – 7¾ in. diam.

PICTURES

GUERCINO

159  SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST; HEAD OF A VENETIAN NOBLEMAN, with black dress and small white collar, by G. B. Moroni; and HEAD OF A JESTER – (three)  3

ZUCCARELLI

160  THE FINDING OF MOSES; MOSES STRIKING THE ROCK; JUDITH WITH HEAD OF HOLOFERNES, ETC. – (five)  5  Unstretched Two of these works auctioned by Christie’s, 7 Oct 1999, “Tobias and the Angel; and Sybils praying before a brazier oil on canvas, unframed and unstretched 11 x 18 in. (29.2 x 45.7 cm.) a pair (2) PROVENANCE Anne L. Swynnerton A.R.A. Christie’s, London, 9th February 1934, lot 160.”

FAIENCE AND OBJECTS OF ART

161  Seven Italian Faience Pharmacy Ewers, inscribed with the labels and scroll foliage in blue – 8 in. and 8½ in. high – 17th Century

162  Seven Italian Faience Pharmacy Ewers, inscribed with the labels, scroll foliage and grotesques in blue and polychrome – 8 in. and 9 in. high – 17th Century

163  A Set of Sixteen Italian Faience Pharmacy Jars, with cylindrical bodies, bulbous shoulders and bases painted with the labels, pharmacy initials, scroll foliage, and birds in blue – 8¼ in. high – 17th Century

164  Twelve Italian Faience Pharmacy Jars, variously inscribed with the labels and scroll foliage in blue and polychrome – 7½ in. and 10¼ in. high – 17th Century

165  Two Italian Faience Water Vessels, decorated in polychrome – 12 in. and 13 in. high; and a Jar, painted with a portrait – 12 in. high

166  Six Italian Pharmacy Jars and Bottles, of various forms, painted with foliage in blue and polychrome – 7 in. and 9 in. high; a Bowl – 13½ in. diam.; and a Plaque – 11 in.

167  A Spanish Carved Wood Group of Mary Magdalene, weeping at the base of the cross – 44 in. high; a Carved Ivory Group, of Christ crucified, in metal case – 17 in. high

168  A White Marble Bust of a Cardinal, wearing his chain of office – 30 in. high

169  A White Marble Bust, of a bearded man – 36 in. high; and a Figure of a Girl, with curled hair reading a paper – 34 in. high

170  A Panel of Flemish Tapestry, woven with a knight and attendant figures kneeling before an alter – 8 ft. 6 in. high, 12 ft. wide – 16th Century

171  Two Persian Rugs, woven with formal flowers and geometrical ornament in colours – 4 ft. 9 in. by 4 ft.; and 6 ft. 3 in. by 4 ft. 3 in.

172  A Bronze Figure of a Lady, holding a feather, inscribed Winifred – 17¾ in. high – by Annie L. Swynnerton, A.R.A.  St. Winifred, venerated at Holywell, Flintshire, Wales, is traditionally depicted holding a feather.

FRAMES, EASELS, ETC.

173  Five Ebonised and Tortoiseshell Frames – (five)  5

174  A gilt Frame, glazed; and Seven Gilt Composition Frames (eight)  8

175  A Pair of Frames; a Gilt Frame, carved with oak leaves; and a Gilt Frame, carven with foliage – (four)  4

176  A Gilt Frame, glazed, carved with oak foliage; and a Gilt Frame, glazed, carved with running scrolls – (two)  2

177  A Gilt Frame, carved with shells and foliage  74 in. by 60 in.

178  Two Gilt Frames; a Gilt Composition Frame; and Three Gilt Frames, carved with foliage (one glazed) – (six)  6

179  Two Easels and the Artist’s Palette – (three)  3

FINIS