Large Early 20Thc Oil On Canvas Of A Coastal Landscape C.1900-20

The very decorative oil on canvas landscape of a coastal landscape with windswept pines amongst a wispy blue sky, being signed lower left with "M Hill", the whole glazed and housed in its original distressed and deep box frame and surviving from the first quarter of twentieth century Britain.

The painting is in fine condition having being under the glass and in its frame since it was painted. Thus, the overall condition is wonderfully original with some light craquelure and the wonderful two-and-a-half inch thick frame has taken on a beautiful time-worn appearance with traces of violet paint. Verso we see a stamp for Roberson & Co, 99 Longacre, dating the picture from 1853-1937.

Founded in 1810 by Charles Roberson, the firm strategically placed themselves in Long Acre, London close to the thriving artistic community and the Royal Academy based at Somerset House. They remained in Long Acre, moving from 51 to 99 in 1853, until 1937 which saw a wholesale move to Camden Town where they would stay until 1987 moving to Holloway. Roberson manufactured a broad range of equipment with his paint recipes a closely guarded secret. Among Roberson's customers were artists such as Turner, Whistler and Sargent, designers such as William Morris, William de Morgan and Walter Crane alongside notable patrons including Queen Victoria and Winston and Lady Churchill.

This picture is certainly well painted, by a good hand, though we can’t find anything on the artist, though further research would probably prove fruitful.

One of those delights where the frame is as beautiful as the work it houses.