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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'THE JUNGFRAU FROM WENGEN'
- Price Realised: 4,200
- Sale: 26 November 2012
- watercolour
- 10 by 13.5in., 25.4 by 34.29cm.
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'A BOGLAND RIVER, 1907'
- Price Realised: 4,200
- Sale: 02 March 2009
- watercolour
- 17 by 25cm., 6.5 by 9.75in.
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'AN ALPINE LOG CABIN'
- Price Realised: 4,200
- Sale: 29 September 2008
- watercolour
- 15 by 18cm., 5.75 by 7in.
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'A BOGLAND LAKE, DONEGAL'
- Price Realised: 4,200
- Sale: 28 April 2008
- watercolour
- 18 by 25cm., 7.25 by 10in.
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'AN IRISH HILLSIDE CABIN'
- Price Realised: 4,200
- Sale: 28 April 2008
- watercolour
- 18 by 25cm., 7 by 10in.
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'SUNSET OVER A WESTERN BOG'
- Price Realised: 4,200
- Sale: 22 February 2005
- watercolour
- 11 by 17cm., 4.5 by 6.75in.
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'BOG LAKE, 1900'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 06 March 2023
- watercolour
- 9Ύ x 6Ύin. (24.77 x 17.15cm)
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'BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 02 December 2019
- watercolour
- 6Ό x 13½in. (15.88 x 34.29cm)
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'BRAY HEAD FROM KILLINEY BAY, COUNTY DUBLIN, 1909'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 16 September 2019
- watercolour
- 9Ό x 12½in. (23½ x 31Ύcm)
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'BOG LAKE'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 27 May 2019
- watercolour
- 7 x 10in. (17.78 x 25.40cm)
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'COTTAGE AND STREAM BEFORE MOUNTAINS'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 28 May 2018
- watercolour
- 6Ύ x 9Ύ x 9Ύin. (17.15 x 24.77 x 24.77cm)
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'BOG LANDSCAPE, WEST OF IRELAND'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour
- 22 by 32cm., 8.75 by 12.7 5in.
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'BOGLAND RIVER, 1914'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour
- 23 by 32cm., 9 by 12.7 5in.
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'CONNEMARA'
- Price Realised: 4,000
- Sale: 19 February 2007
- watercolour
- 13 by 18cm., 5 by 7in.
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'THATCHED COTTAGE IN A BOG'
- Price Realised: 3,800
- Sale: 27 September 2021
- watercolour
- 6½ x 9½in. (16.51 x 24.13cm)
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'LANDSCAPE WITH RIVER AND BRIDGE, 1903'
- Price Realised: 3,800
- Sale: 30 November 2015
- watercolour
- 9 x 13Όin. (22.86 x 33.66cm)
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'BOG LAKE AND TREES, 1914'
- Price Realised: 3,800
- Sale: 24 February 2014
- watercolour
- 7 by 10in., 17.5 by 25cm.
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'ROAD TO MOUNTAINS'
- Price Realised: 3,800
- Sale: 29 November 2010
- watercolour
- 18 by 25cm., 7 by 10in.
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'BOGLAND STREAM'
- Price Realised: 3,800
- Sale: 16 September 2003
- watercolour
- 17 by 25cm., 6.75 by 9.75in.
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'BOG LANDSCAPE'
- Price Realised: 3,800
- Sale: 18 February 2003
- watercolour
- 18 by 25cm., 7 by 10in.
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'DUSK OVER THE BOGLANDS'
- Price Realised: 3,800
- Sale: 08 May 2002
- watercolour
- 18 by 28cm., 7 by 11in.
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'TREE IN BOGLAND AT SUNSET'
- Price Realised: 3,700
- Sale: 15 March 2010
- watercolour
- 25 by 35cm., 10 by 13.7 5in.
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'SAILBOATS ON CARLINGFORD LOUGH, 1909'
- Price Realised: 3,700
- Sale: 24 November 2008
- watercolour
- 16 by 24cm., 6.25 by 9.5in.
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'COTTAGE AND FIGURE IN BOG'
- Price Realised: 3,600
- Sale: 02 October 2023
- watercolour
- 7 x 10in. (17.78 x 25.40cm)
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'BOGLAND WITH TURF STACKS'
- Price Realised: 3,600
- Sale: 31 May 2021
- watercolour
- 6Ό x 8Ύin. (15.88 x 22.23cm)
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'SEASCAPE'
- Price Realised: 3,600
- Sale: 07 December 2020
- watercolour
- 6Ύ x 9½in. (17.15 x 24.13cm)
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'TREES AND BOG RIVER'
- Price Realised: 3,600
- Sale: 26 November 2018
- watercolour
- 7 x 10in. (17.78 x 25.40cm)
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'COUNTY ANTRIM BOG, 1914'
- Price Realised: 3,600
- Sale: 26 November 2018
- watercolour
- 6Ύ x 10Όin. (17.15 x 26.04cm)