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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'IRISH SKETCHES'
- Price Realised: 54,000
- Sale: 24 November 2008
- 13 watercolours mounted in an album with handwritten verses
- 13 by 18cm., 5 by 7in.
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'WHERE EVER I GO MY HEART TURNS BACK TO THE COUNTY MAYO'
- Price Realised: 44,000
- Sale: 20 September 2005
- watercolour
- 30 by 50cm., 12 by 19.5in.
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'TWELVE BENS, CONNEMARA'
- Price Realised: 40,000
- Sale: 28 November 2006
- watercolour
- 39 by 55cm., 15.5 by 21.5in.
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'FAR OER THE MOORS THE LAKELETS LIE ADREAM, THE PAINTERS VISION AND THE POET'S THEME, 1896'
- Price Realised: 20,000
- Sale: 26 November 2007
- watercolour
- 40 by 59cm., 15.7 5 by 23.2 5i
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'KENMARE BAY SEEN FROM DERRYNANE, 1903'
- Price Realised: 15,000
- Sale: 28 September 2009
- watercolour
- 42 by 55cm., 16.5 by 21.5in.
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'LITTLE GIRL ON A STRAND, 1918'
- Price Realised: 14,000
- Sale: 28 November 2006
- watercolour
- 18 by 25cm., 7 by 10in.
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'HORSE-DRAWN BARGE ON CANAL'
- Price Realised: 14,000
- Sale: 26 April 2005
- watercolour
- 36 by 27cm., 14 by 10.5in.
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'THE GARDEN THAT I LOVE'
- Price Realised: 14,000
- Sale: 19 November 2002
- watercolour
- 29 by 44cm., 11.5 by 17.5in.
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'SUNSET OVER THE BOG'
- Price Realised: 12,500
- Sale: 29 November 2005
- watercolour
- 17 by 25cm., 6.5 by 10in.
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'SUNLIGHT OVER BAY, 1907'
- Price Realised: 12,000
- Sale: 19 September 2006
- Watercolour
- 25 by 36cm., 10 by 14.2 5in.
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'TWILIGHT'
- Price Realised: 11,600
- Sale: 29 November 2005
- watercolour
- 20 by 41cm., 8 by 16in.
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'BOG LANDSCAPE WITH TURF STACKS'
- Price Realised: 10,000
- Sale: 28 May 2018
- watercolour
- 10Ό x 17Όin. (26.04 x 43.82cm)
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'ACHILL SOUND, 1906'
- Price Realised: 9,500
- Sale: 28 September 2015
- watercolour
- 9Ύ x 13Ύin. (24.77 x 34.93cm)
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'THE PURPLE MOOR, 1905'
- Price Realised: 9,500
- Sale: 30 September 2013
- watercolour
- 15.5 by 23in., 38.75 by 57.5cm.
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'FAR OER THE MOORS THE LAKELETS LIE ADREAM, THE PAINTERS VISION AND THE POET'S THEME, 1896'
- Price Realised: 9,500
- Sale: 04 March 2013
- watercolour
- 15.75 by 23in., 39.375 by 57.5cm.
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'WEST OF IRELAND LANDSCAPE'
- Price Realised: 9,500
- Sale: 26 November 2012
- watercolour
- 13.25 by 22in., 33.655 by 55.88cm.
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'SUNRISE OVER BOG'
- Price Realised: 9,000
- Sale: 28 November 2006
- watercolour
- 17 by 24cm., 6.5 by 9.5in.
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'LIMERICK'
- Price Realised: 9,000
- Sale: 17 September 2002
- watercolour
- 27 by 36cm., 10.5 by 14in.
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'BOGLAND RIVER'
- Price Realised: 8,400
- Sale: 21 September 2004
- watercolour
- 25 by 36cm., 10 by 14in.
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'SEASCAPE, 1907'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 04 March 2019
- watercolour
- 11½ x 18in. (29.21 x 45.72cm)
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'SCRABO, COUNTY DOWN, 1905'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 28 November 2016
- watercolour
- 9½ x 21in. (24.13 x 53.34cm)
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'HEATHER IN THE MOUNTAINS'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 18 May 2009
- watercolour
- 28 by 45cm., 11 by 17.7 5in.
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'DONEGAL, 1909'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 25 February 2008
- watercolour
- 25 by 35cm., 9.75 by 13.7 5in.
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'BOG LANDSCAPE WITH TURF STACKS, 1910'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 26 November 2007
- watercolour
- 22 by 27cm., 8.5 by 10.5in.
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'BOGLAND LANDSCAPE WITH TREES AND MOUNTAINS BEYOND'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 19 September 2006
- watercolour
- 24 by 35cm., 9.5 by 13.7in.
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'GEESE IN A LANE'
- Price Realised: 8,000
- Sale: 30 November 2004
- watercolour heightened with white
- 17 by 23cm., 6.5 by 9in.
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'RIVERSCENE'
- Price Realised: 7,618
- Sale: 13 June 2001
- watercolour
- 25 by 19cm., 10 by 7.5in.
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'RENVYLE, COUNTY GALWAY, 1909'
- Price Realised: 7,500
- Sale: 17 September 2007
- watercolour on board
- 25 by 36cm., 10 by 14in.