Hercules Brabazon Brabazon

KT397

Watercolour

17.6 x 25.8 cm.; 6 7/8 x 10¼ inches

Framed size 34.5 x 44.5 cm.; 13 5/8 x 17 ½ inches

Provenance
Sotheby’s, London, 18 November 1971, lot 64;

Charles J. Branchini until 2020

The second son of Hercules Sharpe, the artist was educated at Harrow. After leaving Cambridge where he read Maths he decided to become an artist and studied in Rome for three years. On the death of his elder brother he inherited the Brabazon estates (and name) in Ireland. He spent his summers in England and his winters travelling in Europe and, from the 1860s, further afield. In 1891 Sargent persuaded him to have an exhibition at the Goupil Gallery and, as a result, in his old age he was at the forefront of the modern movement.

Brabazon was most influenced by Turner, Cox, Müller and de Wint and his work owes much to Turner's late work. This watercolour is reminiscent of the style of Sargent.