The Mountebanks

Artist George John Pinwell (High Wycombe, England, 1842 - 1875)

Mediumwatercolour on paper

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsSight Size: Height: 13 cm, Width: 9.4 cm
Frame: Height: 28.8 cm, Width: 25.5 cm

AcquisitionAlexander Webster Bequest, 1921.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG004334

Keywords

About MePinwell studied at St. Martin's Lane Academy and Heatherley's Academy. He belonged to a small group of watercolour painters which included Frederick Walker and Arthur Boyd Houghton, a group whose style evolved from the practice of drawing upon wood for book illustration.

Pinwell's illustrations are distinguished by a remarkable, jewel-like quality, demonstrating his love of pure, bright colour and opalescent effect. His promising career was cut short by his early death.

More About Me

Collections Wall

The two figures on the left are the mountebanks selling their quack medicines to the younger couple on the right. Exploiting the expectant mother's fears, perhaps?