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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'SAILING BOATS AT SUNSET'
- Price Realised: 1,400
- Sale: 24 November 2014
- watercolour
- 6½ x 8½in. (16.51 x 21.59cm)
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'THE BUSHY PARK, TERENURE, 1896'
- Price Realised: 1,400
- Sale: 24 November 2014
- watercolour
- 4.80 x 6.60in. (12.19 x 16.76cm)
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'A BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 1,400
- Sale: 26 May 2014
- watercolour
- 6.5 by 9.5in., 16.25 by 23.75cm.
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'CONTEMPLATION'
- Price Realised: 1,400
- Sale: 26 November 2012
- oil on board
- 15 by 12in., 38.1 by 30.48cm.
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'LENANE [SIC], COUNTY GALWAY'
- Price Realised: 1,300
- Sale: 01 October 2012
- watercolour
- 5.25 by 7.25in., 13 by 18cm.
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'ALPINE SNOW SCENE WITH SPRUCE TREES, 1915'
- Price Realised: 1,300
- Sale: 13 December 2010
- watercolour
- 18 by 13cm., 7 by 5in.
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'STEAMSHIP IN BAY, DUSK and ENTERING THE LIFFEY'
- Price Realised: 1,300
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour (double sided)
- 13 by 33cm., 5 by 13in.
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'PINE FOREST AT SUNSET'
- Price Realised: 1,250
- Sale: 26 May 2014
- watercolour
- 4.75 by 6.75in., 11.875 by 16.875cm.
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'DUSK OVER A FOREST'
- Price Realised: 1,150
- Sale: 30 September 2013
- watercolour
- 4.75 by 6.75in., 11.875 by 16.875cm.
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'COASTAL SCENE WITH CLIFFS'
- Price Realised: 1,100
- Sale: 28 September 2009
- watercolour
- 11 by 17cm., 4.25 by 6.5in.
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'COASTAL LANDSCAPE'
- Price Realised: 1,000
- Sale: 16 September 2019
- watercolour
- 6 x 9in. (15.24 x 22.86cm)
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'SNOW SCENE WITH LOG CABIN, SWITZERLAND'
- Price Realised: 1,000
- Sale: 26 May 2014
- watercolour
- 5 by 6.5in., 12.5 by 16.25cm.
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'ALPINE SCENE'
- Price Realised: 950
- Sale: 25 May 2015
- watercolour
- 7½ x 5Όin. (19.05 x 13.34cm)
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'FIGURES IN A BOAT ON ALPINE LAKE'
- Price Realised: 900
- Sale: 12 March 2012
- watercolour
- 15.24 by 22.225cm., 6 by 8.75in.
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'SAILBOAT AT SUNSET [PAINTED PLATE], 1903'
- Price Realised: 800
- Sale: 26 November 2012
- ceramic paint on china plate; varnished
- 6 by 6in., 15.24 by 15.24cm.
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'STUDY OF ALPINE SCENE'
- Price Realised: 600
- Sale: 30 November 2009
- watercolour
- 6 by 9cm., 2.5 by 3.5in.
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'SIGNED CARICATURE SELF-PORTRAIT'
- Price Realised: 400
- Sale: 09 July 2018
- black ink on paper
- 2Ό x 4in. (5.72 x 10.16cm)