William Percy French
William Percy French (1 May 1854 24 January 1920), was a landscape painter, sketcher and illustrator. Alongside this he was also a poet, opera composer and author of many popular songs which he performed around the world. Born at Cloonyquin House, County Roscommon, he was the son of an Anglo-Irish landlord. Having graduated from Trinity College Dublin he became an Inspector of Drains with the County Cavan Board of Works. Even while fulfilling this role he produced a large number of watercolours and considered art to be his true vocation. The Board of Works downsized in 1887 and having spent a brief period as editor of the weekly comic The Jarvey French began his career as a songwriter and entertainer. www.whytes.ie At this time French married Ethel Armitage-Moore, but tragically she died along with their daughter in childbirth. His musical career was a great success and he travelled the world performing in the United States, Canada, the West Indies, Switzerland and England. All the while he was painting the light and landscape of these disparate places. He exhibited regularly with the Royal Hibernian Society and the Watercolour Society of Ireland as well as several galleries in London. Percy French died at the age of 65 having contracted pneumonia at a series of concerts in Glasgow. Exhibitions of his work were held in 1974, 1979 and 1982 at the Oriel Gallery in Dublin and in 1983 the Percy French Society was founded. About 80 of his watercolours are included at their Heritage Centre in North County Down. www.whytes.ie
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'A NORTH ANTRIM BOG, 1915'
- Price Realised: 7,400
- Sale: 29 May 2017
- watercolour
- 13½ x 20½in. (34.29 x 52.07cm)
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'GLENVEIGH, COUNTY DONEGAL, 1897'
- Price Realised: 7,200
- Sale: 30 April 2007
- watercolour
- 15 by 23cm., 5.75 by 9in.
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'GLENVEIGH, COUNTY DONEGAL'
- Price Realised: 7,110
- Sale: 09 October 2001
- watercolour
- 23 by 36cm., 9 by 14in.
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'GLENVEAGH CASTLE, COUNTY DONEGAL'
- Price Realised: 7,000
- Sale: 26 September 2022
- watercolour
- 9Ό x 13½in. (23½ x 34.29cm)
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'SAILBOAT, 1900'
- Price Realised: 7,000
- Sale: 27 September 2021
- watercolour
- 11Ύ x 8in. (29.85 x 20.32cm)
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'TWELVE BENS, CONNEMARA, 1911'
- Price Realised: 7,000
- Sale: 12 March 2012
- watercolour
- 35.56 by 53.34cm., 14 by 21in.
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'RUNKERRY, COUNTY ANTRIM'
- Price Realised: 7,000
- Sale: 19 February 2002
- watercolour
- 23 by 29cm., 9 by 11.5in.
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'BOGLAND SCENE WITH MOUNTAINS AND STREAM'
- Price Realised: 6,856
- Sale: 09 October 2001
- watercolour
- 19 by 32cm., 7.5 by 12.5in.
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'GEESE ON A BOG'
- Price Realised: 6,800
- Sale: 29 September 2008
- watercolour
- 21 by 35cm., 8.25 by 13.7 5in.
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'A BOGLAND RIVER WITH HEATHER IN FLOWER'
- Price Realised: 6,700
- Sale: 20 September 2005
- watercolour
- 21 by 28cm., 8.25 by 11in.
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'BOG ROAD'
- Price Realised: 6,600
- Sale: 26 November 2018
- watercolour
- 10Ό x 18Όin. (26.04 x 46.36cm)
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'CONNEMARA, 1914'
- Price Realised: 6,500
- Sale: 18 May 2009
- watercolour
- 26 by 36cm., 10.2 5 by 14.2 5in.
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'SUNBURST OVER THE BOG'
- Price Realised: 6,349
- Sale: 10 October 2000
- watercolour
- 18 by 25cm., 7 by 10in.
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'SET OF FOUR SEASCAPES'
- Price Realised: 6,200
- Sale: 25 November 2013
- watercolour; (4)
- 4.5 by 6.5in., 11.25 by 16.25cm.
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'COTTAGE BY A LAKE'
- Price Realised: 6,200
- Sale: 19 September 2006
- watercolour
- 24 by 34cm., 9.5 by 13.5in.
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'GIRL WITH TOBOGGAN'
- Price Realised: 6,000
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour
- 15 by 23cm., 6 by 9in.
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'CURRACH ON A LOUGH'
- Price Realised: 6,000
- Sale: 28 November 2006
- watercolour
- 17 by 22cm., 6.75 by 8.75in.
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'THE GARDEN THAT I LOVE'
- Price Realised: 6,000
- Sale: 20 September 2005
- watercolour on artist's board
- 18 by 25cm., 7 by 10in.
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'BOGLAND SCENE WITH CATTLE'
- Price Realised: 6,000
- Sale: 17 February 2004
- watercolour
- 18 by 46cm., 7 by 18in.
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'LOUGH SWILLY, COUNTY DONEGAL'
- Price Realised: 6,000
- Sale: 08 May 2002
- watercolour
- 18 by 25cm., 7 by 10in.
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'BOAT MOORED IN AN ESTUARY, 1914'
- Price Realised: 5,900
- Sale: 17 September 2007
- watercolour
- 18 by 25cm., 7 by 10in.
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'MORNING LIGHT OVER THE RUSHES, 1899'
- Price Realised: 5,800
- Sale: 12 March 2012
- watercolour
- 17.78 by 33.655cm., 7 by 13.25in.
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'BOG SCENE, 1916'
- Price Realised: 5,800
- Sale: 26 November 2007
- watercolour
- 24 by 33cm., 9.5 by 13in.
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'WHERE THE MOUNTAINS OF MOURNE SWEEP DOWN TO THE SEA'
- Price Realised: 5,600
- Sale: 26 September 2022
- watercolour
- 7½ x 13½in. (19.05 x 34.29cm)
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'GRAND CANAL, DUBLIN, 1896'
- Price Realised: 5,600
- Sale: 26 February 2018
- watercolour
- 6½ x 4½in. (16.51 x 11.43cm)
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'BOGLAND RIVER AND TURF STACKS, 1907'
- Price Realised: 5,600
- Sale: 19 September 2006
- watercolour on paper
- 18 by 25cm., 7 by 10in.
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'BREAKING CLOUDS ABOVE A LAKE, 1906'
- Price Realised: 5,400
- Sale: 28 May 2018
- watercolour
- 9½ x 12in. (24.13 x 30.48cm)
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'ON DUBLIN BAY, 1906'
- Price Realised: 5,400
- Sale: 17 September 2007
- watercolour
- 10 by 18cm., 4 by 7in.