Edward Angelo Goodall R.W.S. (1819-1908) - At Beaugency, France

Edward Angelo Goodall was born into an artistic family with his father (Edward Goodall) being a famous engraver, and his brothers Frederick and Walter being arists. He was apprenticed into his father's business and learnt the skills required to be an engraver at a young age. Many great works including by J.M.W. Turner were engraved here which helped Edward Angelo see various compositions by the best contemporary watercolourists of the day. This led to him discovering a talent for painting in watercolour which eventually in 1864 helped him to be elected a member of the Royal Watercolour Society (R.W.S.). 
 
Edward Angelo is renowned for his Orientalist watercolours but he also travelled to many other countries. A famous trip to British Guiana (modern day Guyana) in 1841 allowed Goodall to sketch the indigenous people, landscape, plants and wildlife of the country through a commission with the Prussian government. After returning from this trip in 1844 he then became a war artist in 1845 to depict the events unfolding in the Crimea for the Illustrated London News. Goodall was then known to have visited France, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, Egypt, Morocco, and Italy. The latter he visited on various occasions with Venice always being his most important stop. 
 
This intriguing and highly finished watercolour was from a trip to Beaugency in the Loiret department in North-Central France. The town is located on the Loire River and is close to Blois and Orléans. The work depicts a lady and a gentleman in traditional local outfits possibly at their house based on the various utensils to the left of the composition. Although no date is inscribed on the work we can be confident that this picture was produced in the second half of the 19th century.
 
Medium: watercolour on paper.
 
20.5 x 23 cm, framed.
 
Provenance: Abbott and Holder (stock number 45063).