347 - Lucien Davis, RI,

Lucien Davis, RI, British 1860-1941- Two scenes of elegant company en grisaille: Ice-skating; and The Handshake; each bodycolour on paper, the first signed 'LUCIEN DAVIS' (lower right), the second signed and inscribed 'LUCIEN DAVIS R.I' (lower left), the first 26.9 x 16.8 cm., the second 21.6 x 13.3 cm., two (2). Provenance: with the Whitgift Galleries, Croydon, where acquired by the present owner. Private Collection, UK. Note: Davis was born in Liverpool into a family of artists. His father was the Irish painter William Davis (1812-1873), and his brothers were John Valentine Davis (1854-1930) and William Paul Davis, both landscape and genre painters. After having studied at the Royal Academy School, Lucien worked extensively as an illustrator of books and journals. His work focuses on representing Victorian society scenes, such as the present lot, some of which were exhibited at the Royal Academy.