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
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'STREAM THROUGH BOG LANDSCAPE'
- Price Realised: 2,100
- Sale: 12 March 2012
- watercolour
- 16.51 by 24.13cm., 6.5 by 9.5in.
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'CHILDREN PLAYING ON BEACH'
- Price Realised: 2,100
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour
- 15 by 10cm., 6 by 4in.
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'BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 04 December 2023
- watercolour
- 5½ x 7Ύin. (13.97 x 19.69cm)
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'COASTAL SCENE'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 09 March 2020
- watercolour
- 5 x 6in. (12.70 x 15.24cm)
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'BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 04 March 2019
- watercolour
- 6Ύ x 9½in. (17.15 x 24.13cm)
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'SUNSET SCENE'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 29 February 2016
- watercolour
- 7 x 9Ύin. (17.78 x 24.77cm)
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'BOG LANDSCAPE WITH TREES'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 25 May 2015
- watercolour
- 9 x 11½in. (22.86 x 29.21cm)
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'EVENING STAR, 1909'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 25 November 2013
- watercolour
- 8.75 by 11.25in., 21.875 by 28.125cm.
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'LIGHT THROUGH BREAKING CLOUDS ON BOGLAND WITH MOUNTAINS IN THE DISTANCE'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 26 November 2012
- watercolour
- 7 by 10in., 17.78 by 25.4cm.
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'TWO FISHERMEN IN A CURRACH, 1912'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 10 October 2011
- watercolour
- 8 by 12cm., 3 by 4.75in.
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'BEACHED VESSEL'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- oil on board
- 38 by 27cm., 15 by 10.5in.
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'LOW CLOUD OVER RIVER AND BOG, A VIGNETTE, 1897'
- Price Realised: 2,000
- Sale: 28 November 2006
- watercolour
- 14 by 19cm., 5.5 by 7.5in.
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'BOGLAND RIVER AND TURF STACKS, 1907'
- Price Realised: 1,900
- Sale: 24 November 2014
- watercolour
- 7 x 10in. (17.78 x 25.40cm)
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'LANDSCAPE WITH PINE TREES AND LAKE'
- Price Realised: 1,900
- Sale: 24 November 2014
- watercolour
- 10½ x 14½in. (26.67 x 36.83cm)
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'IN CONNEMARA, 1912'
- Price Realised: 1,900
- Sale: 26 May 2014
- watercolour
- 7.25 by 10in., 18.125 by 25cm.
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'LOW CLOUD OVER RIVER AND BOG, A VIGNETTE, 1897'
- Price Realised: 1,800
- Sale: 27 November 2017
- watercolour
- 5½ x 7½in. (13.97 x 19.05cm)
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'BOG LAKE WITH TURF STACK'
- Price Realised: 1,800
- Sale: 26 September 2016
- watercolour
- 4Ύ x 6½in. (12.07 x 16.51cm)
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'COTTAGES WITH MOUNTAIN RANGE IN THE DISTANCE'
- Price Realised: 1,800
- Sale: 26 May 2014
- watercolour
- 4.75 by 6.75in., 11.875 by 16.875cm.
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'O'ER CRAG AND TORRENT, 1905'
- Price Realised: 1,800
- Sale: 15 March 2010
- watercolour
- 25 by 18cm., 10 by 7in.
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'RIVER THROUGH THE BOG'
- Price Realised: 1,777
- Sale: 19 November 2001
- watercolour
- 11 by 17cm., 4.5 by 6.5in.
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'BOG LANDSCAPE WITH TREES'
- Price Realised: 1,700
- Sale: 01 October 2018
- watercolour
- 6½ x 9½in. (16.51 x 24.13cm)
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'SEASCAPE'
- Price Realised: 1,700
- Sale: 30 November 2015
- watercolour
- 5 x 6Ύin. (12.70 x 17.15cm)
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'SAIL BOATS ON A LAKE, 1914'
- Price Realised: 1,600
- Sale: 26 May 2014
- watercolour
- 5 by 9.75in., 12.5 by 24.375cm.
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'RIVER LANDSCAPE, 1904'
- Price Realised: 1,600
- Sale: 04 March 2013
- watercolour
- 4.5 by 9in., 11.25 by 22.5cm.
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'DONEGAL COASTAL SCENE'
- Price Realised: 1,600
- Sale: 30 May 2011
- watercolour
- 12 by 17cm., 4.75 by 6.75in.
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'SEASCAPE'
- Price Realised: 1,500
- Sale: 31 May 2021
- watercolour
- 5 x 6½in. (12.70 x 16.51cm)
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'LAKE VIEW'
- Price Realised: 1,500
- Sale: 12 March 2012
- watercolour
- 14.605 by 24.765cm., 5.75 by 9.75in.
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'TREES AND RIVER LANDSCAPE'
- Price Realised: 1,500
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour
- 17 by 22cm., 6.5 by 8.5in.