Country House Collections at Slane Castle October 12
th
& 13
th
2014
31
49
STUDIO OF SAMUEL DIXON (D.1769)
A Flower Piece
Gouache, 41 x 30cm
Inscribed indistinctly verso
Samuel Dixon (fl. 1748-69) is perhaps best known for his
naturalistic pictures of fruit, flowers and birds executed in his
signature basso relievo technique. His highly decorative designs
did not display any great scientific understanding of his subjects
but nonetheless they were and continue to be highly prized. This
work displays strong influence of the great Dutch and French
artists of the day and the particular technique of using a black
background.
Dixon’s flower pieces soon became the most sought after decorative
items in 18th Century Dublin, so much so that he had to employ
assistants to hand colour the reliefs. Artists such as James Riley,
Daniel O’ Keeffe and Gustavus Hamilton were perhaps the best of
his assistants. The present work is similar in subject and quality to
numerous examples by these artists (see Adam’s sale of Important
Irish Art 2/4/08, Lot 28 and 1/4/09 Lot 122 for similar signed
examples) and a Flower Painting with Lily of the Valley by O’Keeffe
(Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge) has striking similarities. The
florid inscription in watercolour on the reverse is illegible but
similar to signatures on the previously sold examples.
€1500 - 2000
50
ATTRIBUTED TO SAMUEL DIXON (D.1769)
A pair of basso relievo pictures depicting:The Turaco; The Red Barbary
Partridge
watercolour on embossed paper in Chinoiserie decorated lacquer frames,
a pair, 25.4 x 20.3cm each
Provenance: Ronald McDonnell Collection (Lot 477), 20th October 1993;
where purchased by the current owner
€2000 - 4000
