James Duffield Harding OWS, Chalet in the Swiss Alps, Mid-1800s, Watercolour

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An original mid-19th-century watercolour painting, James Duffield Harding OWS, Chalet in the Swiss Alps.A beautiful Continental landscape by James Duffield … Read more An original mid-19th-century watercolour painting, James Duffield Harding OWS, Chalet in the Swiss Alps.A beautiful Continental landscape by James Duffield Harding OWS (1798–1863), painted in watercolour and heightened with touches of bodycolour and gum arabic. The archetypal Swiss view, with old Swiss chalet and chapel before majestic mountain peaks, exemplifies the contemporary taste for the picturesque. Harding was taught by Samuel Prout, master of the architectural picturesque, and early in his career he would establish himself as a successful and influential teacher.One of the first to practice lithography, he capitalised on the new technique to produce good examples for the use of students, with often repeated subjects and motifs. He was the author of numerous drawing manuals, and was further influential in his use of tinted papers and opaque paints in watercolour.Swiss subjects featured prominently in Harding's 1861 'Picturesque Selections'—the artist's finest achievement in lithography—with the picturesque chalets at Brunnen a particular focus.The paper is blindstamped with Harding's collector's mark JDH (Lugt. 1448) at the lower right corner. It appears that this stamp was in some cases used on his own work as well as denoting works in his collection. See for example, Harding's Lynmouth watercolour in the collection of The Fitzwilliam Museum, PD.18-1981.There is a small additional portrait sketch on the verso of the paper.All artworks come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Signed: James Duffield Harding collector's mark blindstamp (Lugt. 1448) at lower right corner. Inscribed: Inscribed indistinctly verso. Height: 25.8cm (10.2″) Width: 37cm (14.6″) Condition: Minor age toning, with light mount burn towards the periphery. There is a barely visible repaired tear extending into the image approximately 7cm at the centre of the lower edge. Please see photos for detail. Presented: Unframed. See less