211 - Charles Robertson, RWS,

Charles Robertson, RWS, British 1844-1891- A street scene in North Africa; pencil and watercolour heightened with white on card, bears label inscribed '106 / A Fruit Shop Tangiers / Charles Robertson / R.W.S' attached to the reverse of the frame, inscribed 'A Street Corner / Algiers' verso, 25.8 x 17.7 cm. Provenance: Sir Bruce M. Seton, Baronet, Durham House, Chelsea. His sale, Christie's, London, 2 March 1912, lot 227 (as 'C. Robertson'). Private Collection, UK. Note: Robertson travelled widely over the course of his career, visiting Algeria in 1862, Turkey in 1872, Egypt and Morocco in 1876, and Jerusalem and Damascus in 1889. The present work is a typical example of Robertson's Orientalist street scenes, influenced by an earlier generation of artists including John Frederick Lewis (1804-1876) and Frank Dillon (1823-1909), and characterised by a pale colour palette which evokes the bright sunlight of the scene. Similar works include a work which sold at Bonhams, London, on 27 April 2004, lot 66 (£2,400 hammer), or another which sold at the same rooms on 26 October 2020, lot 6 (£2,550). A much larger Cairo street scene sold at Sotheby's, London, on 22 October 2019, lot 32 (£663,000).