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A rare and important painting by a French artist whose work foreshadowed the French impressionists will be a major attraction when it goes on sale at The Pavilions of Harrogate Decorative, Antiques & Art Fair at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, 2th – 4th November 2018.

Titled ‘Moonlight’, pictured above is by Henri Joseph Harpignies (1819-1916) and depicts a lake surrounded by tress, probably in the south of France. Painted in black and grey ink, it is atmospheric and typical of the artist’s work. Harpignies was a key member of the Barbizon School, the group of artists that began the artistic journey towards the Impressionists. The Barbizon School is the name given to a community of mid-19th-century painters who worked in and around the village of Barbizon in the forest of Fontainebleau, south-east of Paris. They painted landscapes and scenes of rural life, occasionally working in the open air. They took their lead from the Suffolk artist John Constable, who was painting from life landscapes and were important precursors of the Impressionists.

Harpignies was a respected artist who was awarded medals of excellence for his works at the Paris Salons of 1866, 1868, 1869, 1878, 1897 and finally the Grand Prix in 1900. In 1875, Harpignies was awarded the Cross of a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur; in 1883, a Cross d'Officier and finally, the Cross de Commandeur in 1901. Harpignies was also fine watercolourist and exhibited at the New Watercolour Society in London. Today his paintings can be seen in major French and English collections.

There will be a diverse collection of dealers at the fair this time, both formal and decorative decorative dealers from the North and across the UK.  Harrogate based Chris Holmes Antiques will join Tall Boy Interiors with decorative antiques, architectural elements and antiques for the garden. Sutcliffe Galleries promise paintings by local artists. Mark Buckley Antiques shows fine English furniture and bronzes, W.R.Harvey Antiques specialise in Georgian and Regency period pieces. John Newton Antiques has 19th and 20th century traditional and studio ceramics and Jack Shaw & Co. makes a superb display of fine English silverware.
 
In other collecting fields will be Scarab Antiques with fine designer jewellery, silver and costume jewellery, vintage watches, studio/art glass, silverware and collectables.  Read more about the couple from Scarab, Sue and Alan Poultney on our In conversation with blog. Solo Antiques, specialising in glass and sculpture from the Decorative Arts period; jewellers Plaza and Shapiro & Co; Roger De Ville with early English pottery and Brian Ashbee from Bristol. Several leading art dealers will be showing, including Walker Galleries, Sutcliffe Galleries and Rowles Fine Art.

Roger de Ville - a very rare pottery cream-ware plate decorated with a canon and flags commemorating the Battle of Waterloo, 1815. priced at £1350.00

Among the many highlights will be a very rare pottery cream-ware plate decorated with a canon and flags commemorating the Battle of Waterloo, 1815. Belonging to pottery specialist Roger de Ville, this collector’s item will be on sale for £1350.00 (above).

Admission to the fair is £5.00 Open Times: Friday - Sunday 11am-5.00pm. For more information about the fair and a full exhibitors list visit www.cooperevents.com