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| ARTIST: | Edward Augustus Gifford RA. |
| DATES: | British 1819 - 1894 |
| TITLE: | Interior of San Lorenzo Church, Florence |
| MEDIUM: | Watercolour |
| SIZE: | 36 x 50 cm |
| REMARKS: | signed, titled and inscribed on label verso |
| $NZ: | Category E |
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Edward Augustus Gifford RA England 1819 - 1894 New Zealand Born in London in 1819, Edward Gifford was enrolled at a young age in the Royal Academy School of Art in London where he became a successful and accomplished artist in both watercolour and oil paints. He had first trained in London as an architect and the meticulous delineation of buildings in several of his paintings clearly reflect this discipline. Gifford also completed numerous portrait studies, interior scenes and landscapes, winning a gold medal in his final year. In 1854 he travelled throughout Europe before venturing to New Zealand in 1877, where he immediately began exhibiting with the Otago Art Society in Dunedin until 1893. Gifford settled initially in Oamaru, where his brother was a vicar. He travelled throughout New Zealand, spending prolonged periods in both Auckland and Napier but remained settled in Oamaru. During his Italian interlude, Gifford painted a selection of church interiors, accurately recording the architectural detailing and light effects of the sun spilling through high windows as seen in the painting of the San Lorenzo interior in Florence. This painting reveals a dynamic display of thick, broad strokes and bold, vivid colours. The careful delineation of the church's structural foundation is resultant of Gifford's earlier training as an architect in London before he came to focus explicitly on painting. The wide diversity of subjects that Gifford successfully accomplished is testament to both his flexibility and talent as he produced works of portraiture, genre scenes, townscapes and landscapes as well as interior scenes and architectural works. A large portion of his oeuvre features subjects concerning Auckland, Otago and South Canterbury. He continued to exhibit consistently with the Royal Academy from the early 1840s, with works such as The Poor Waiting the Alms Daily Distributed, San Miniato near Florence, The Evening Lesson and Conferring a Decoration. Gifford is represented in all major galleries throughout New Zealand including the Auckland City Art Gallery as well in numerous private and public collections in Europe and the United States. The present painting Interior of San Lorenzo Church, Florence was given to Gifford's sister Matilda and remained in the family for many years before being exhibited at Jonathan Grant Galleries. |
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| Jonathan Grant Galleries Ltd 280 Parnell Rd, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand. Telephone +64-9-308 9125 Email jonathan@jgg.co.nz |
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