254 - Helen Allingham, RWS,

Helen Allingham, RWS, British 1848-1926- A young girl carrying wood in a landscape, identified as Katie Hardy; watercolour on paper, signed 'H Allingham' (lower left), bears typed label attached to the reverse of the backing board, 12.8 x 8.8 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, UK. Note: Allingham enjoyed particular success as an illustrator, working for children's publications as well as periodicals such as 'The Graphic', and providing twelve illustrations for the 1874 serialisation of Thomas Hardy's (1840-1928) 'Far From the Madding Crowd'. Charming rural views like the present work are typical of Allingham's output. She was also a close friend of the illustrator and watercolourist Kate Greenaway (1846-1901), with both artists drawn to the depiction of an idyllic and idealised view of rural England. Allingham enjoyed considerable success in her time, and in 1890 became the first woman to be admitted as a full member of the Royal Watercolour Society. Similar works by Allingham include a portrait of a young girl which sold at Bonhams, London, on 19 March 2025, lot 22 (£3,840) or another which sold at Woolley & Wallis on 11 August 2021, lot 192 (£8,000 hammer).