The Forgotten Art UK

Thames Steamer (Banshee at Moulsford), c. 1983, was the title of the third original watercolour I had found by the same artist. This time the painting was not signed, but the artist's style was undeniable. The title of the artwork and the artist's name were stated on a label attached to the back of the frame, with a number (9) suggesting that the watercolour had been acquired at an exhibition. The frame was simple, still the original with which it had been exhibited around 1983. I had found another early Vicary’s artwork, later authenticated and dated by the artist himself, in October 2019. The dimensions of the artwork are similar to those of the other two paintings: 385 x 248 cm. I purchased it at Portobello Road Market the 25th October 2019, and the provenance is the same as in the two previous paintings, a house clearance from a posh property in Pont Street, London. Thames Steamer (Banshee at Moulsford), c. 1983, by M. Vicary. Banshee at Moulsford.   Michael Vicary also sha...

  Who's so lucky to find something valuable in the same place two weeks in a row? More accurately, I didn't find one more Vicary's painting, but two. The first of these was  Old boatyard at Hurley (1983), an original watercolour by Michael Vicary, signed lower right. Old boatyard at Hurley (1983), by M. Vicary On the frame and mount there were some tags that titled and dated the artwork and identified the artist, probably from the exhibition where the painting was acquired. One of them even included the artist's address and phone number. Old boatyard at Hurley is also an early Vicary’s artwork, authenticated and dated by the artist himself in October 2019. Its size is 377 x 260 mm. I purchased it at Portobello Road Market the 25th October 2019. The provenance is the same as for the previous artwork, a house clearance, from a property in Pont Street, London. This second composition by Vicary has the capacity to transfer the spectator to the boatyard. You can almost smell...

If I had to draw my particular treasure map, I would surely sketch the streets at Portobello Road and Golborne Rd markets between Portobello Green Market and Wornington Rd. There I found most of the fabulous pieces of my art collection, turning a few pounds into hundreds every Friday. It took me exactly a year to gather all those pieces. Sadly for me, my last year working in London.   The first piece of art in this story is ‘The Thames at Hurley’ (c. 1980), an original watercolour by Michael Vicary. It is signed lower right. This is an early Vicary’s artwork, authenticated and dated by the artist himself in October 2019. The size of the artwork is 37,7 x 26,7 cm. Thankfully, after a light, non-abrasive cleaning, the watercolour is in excellent condition, with bright, unfaded colours. I acquired this painting, as I said, in the Portobello Rd. market on October 18th 2019. All the stallholders could tell me about the provenance was that it came from emptying a posh big house in Pont S...

It was February 2020, during the half-term break. With the storm Denis whipping through the glass of the coaches I boarded a train at Paddington Station, on my way to a lonely place unknown to most people, and of course to me. All I really knew about that site was what I could actually see in a watercolour hanging in my living room. I was attempting to discover something more about that wonderful spot where nature probably still retained the same essence as when the artist depicted it four decades ago. I've always been keen on art, ever since I was a high school student. On Friday afternoons, after a hard week's work, while many people socialise in a pub before they start their weekend, I try to lose myself in museums that close their doors very late, such as the Tate Britain or the National Gallery. During the mandatory lockdown, what I missed the most was being able to keep looking at the artworks. I have always wondered why not all the museum websites allow virtual tours. I ...