William Percy French
William Percy French (1 May 1854 24 January 1920), was a landscape painter, sketcher and illustrator. Alongside this he was also a poet, opera composer and author of many popular songs which he performed around the world. Born at Cloonyquin House, County Roscommon, he was the son of an Anglo-Irish landlord. Having graduated from Trinity College Dublin he became an Inspector of Drains with the County Cavan Board of Works. Even while fulfilling this role he produced a large number of watercolours and considered art to be his true vocation. The Board of Works downsized in 1887 and having spent a brief period as editor of the weekly comic The Jarvey French began his career as a songwriter and entertainer. www.whytes.ie At this time French married Ethel Armitage-Moore, but tragically she died along with their daughter in childbirth. His musical career was a great success and he travelled the world performing in the United States, Canada, the West Indies, Switzerland and England. All the while he was painting the light and landscape of these disparate places. He exhibited regularly with the Royal Hibernian Society and the Watercolour Society of Ireland as well as several galleries in London. Percy French died at the age of 65 having contracted pneumonia at a series of concerts in Glasgow. Exhibitions of his work were held in 1974, 1979 and 1982 at the Oriel Gallery in Dublin and in 1983 the Percy French Society was founded. About 80 of his watercolours are included at their Heritage Centre in North County Down. www.whytes.ie
-
'BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 2,600
- Sale: 02 October 2017
- watercolour
- 5½ x 7½in. (13.97 x 19.05cm)
-
'IN OULD DONEGAL, 1909'
- Price Realised: 2,600
- Sale: 28 November 2016
- watercolour
- 5Ύ x 9½in. (14.61 x 24.13cm)
-
'BOGLAND SCENE, 1910'
- Price Realised: 2,600
- Sale: 28 September 2009
- watercolour
- 13 by 23cm., 5 by 9.25in.
-
'BOG LANDSCAPE'
- Price Realised: 2,500
- Sale: 29 November 2021
- watercolour
- 6½ x 9Ύin. (16.51 x 24.77cm)
-
'SUNLIT BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 2,500
- Sale: 28 September 2020
- watercolour
- 7 x 10½in. (17.78 x 26.67cm)
-
'BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 2,500
- Sale: 29 May 2017
- watercolour
- 9 x 13Ύin. (22.86 x 34.93cm)
-
'A BOG LAKE, ACHILL'
- Price Realised: 2,500
- Sale: 26 November 2012
- watercolour
- 7 by 9.75in., 17.78 by 24.765cm.
-
'BOG RIVER WITH TURF STACK IN THE DISTANCE'
- Price Realised: 2,500
- Sale: 28 November 2011
- watercolour
- 17 by 23cm., 6.5 by 9.25in.
-
'SHEEP IN MOONLIGHT'
- Price Realised: 2,500
- Sale: 14 March 2011
- watercolour
- 14 by 12cm., 5.5 by 4.75in.
-
'DONEGAL COAST, 1906'
- Price Realised: 2,500
- Sale: 15 March 2010
- watercolour
- 17 by 23cm., 6.5 by 9in.
-
'FALCARRAGH, COUNTY DONEGAL, 1909'
- Price Realised: 2,500
- Sale: 30 November 2009
- watercolour
- 17 by 23cm., 6.5 by 9.25in.
-
'BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 2,400
- Sale: 09 March 2020
- watercolour
- 6½ x 8Ύin. (16.51 x 22.23cm)
-
'BEACH SCENE, 1904-1906'
- Price Realised: 2,400
- Sale: 28 May 2018
- watercolour
- 6Ό x 9½in. (15.88 x 24.13cm)
-
'THE ROCK OF CASHEL, COUNTY TIPPERARY'
- Price Realised: 2,400
- Sale: 30 May 2011
- watercolour
- 25 by 17cm., 9.75 by 6.5in.
-
'AMONG THE MOURNE MOUNTAINS'
- Price Realised: 2,400
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour
- 20 by 27cm., 7.75 by 10.5in.
-
'BOGLAND SCENE, 1908'
- Price Realised: 2,400
- Sale: 15 March 2010
- watercolour heightened with white
- 12 by 17cm., 4.75 by 6.5in.
-
'LAKE SCENE WITH FOREST AND MOUNTAINS, 1909'
- Price Realised: 2,300
- Sale: 04 March 2024
- watercolour
- 5 x 6½in. (12.70 x 16.51cm)
-
'CONNEMARA, 1904'
- Price Realised: 2,300
- Sale: 04 March 2019
- watercolour
- 9 x 11Ύin. (22.86 x 29.85cm)
-
'TALL TREES WITH TURF STACKS BEYOND'
- Price Realised: 2,300
- Sale: 26 May 2014
- watercolour
- 6.5 by 9.5in., 16.25 by 23.75cm.
-
'BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 2,300
- Sale: 24 February 2014
- watercolour
- 7.5 by 10.5in., 18.75 by 26.25cm.
-
'THE RED SAIL'
- Price Realised: 2,300
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour
- 17 by 24cm., 6.5 by 9.5in.
-
'SHIPS OFF NORTH AMERICA'
- Price Realised: 2,300
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour
- 24 by 34cm., 9.5 by 13.5in.
-
'FIGURES IN BOAT'
- Price Realised: 2,200
- Sale: 23 February 2015
- watercolour
- 9½ x 6½in. (24.13 x 16.51cm)
-
'LIGHT GLISTENING ON WATER'
- Price Realised: 2,200
- Sale: 26 May 2014
- watercolour
- 6.75 by 9.5in., 16.875 by 23.75cm.
-
'SUNSET SKETCH (c.1910-1920)'
- Price Realised: 2,200
- Sale: 28 September 2009
- watercolour
- 12 by 17cm., 4.75 by 6.75in.
-
'BEACH SCENE WITH SAILBOATS, 1911'
- Price Realised: 2,125
- Sale: 06 June 2022
- watercolour
- 6Ό x 9½in. (15.88 x 24.13cm)
-
'ON THE ROCKS [ROCK OF CASHEL, COUNTY TIPPERARY]'
- Price Realised: 2,100
- Sale: 26 May 2014
- watercolour
- 9.75 by 6.5in., 24.375 by 16.25cm.
-
'THE BLUE HILLS'
- Price Realised: 2,100
- Sale: 30 September 2013
- watercolour
- 6.75 by 9in., 16.875 by 22.5cm.