The artist's own style also signs an artwork.

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 shared with me some details of this watercolour: “They were all painted round about 1983. (…) It’s a shame I forgot to sign one. I don’t suppose the watercolour has slipped down the mount and concealed the signature by any chance? (…) 'Banshee' is just the sort of boat you might find in Freebody’s Boatyard, but I don’t know for sure she is one of theirs. Moulsford Viaduct carries the main railway line from London to Bristol over the Thames. It is about 25 miles west of Reading. I would have painted the bridge on the spot and then added the boat later from photographs. The funnel smoke is a compositional device to break up the long line of the parapet. As the line has recently been electrified there will be lots of pylons and overhead wires to do that now!”.

 

Moulsford Railway Bridge is in the Thames Path Wallingford to Reading. The path goes through a nature reserve and is usually quite to very muddy - the vegetation either side of this beautiful walking area can be at least head high and there is plenty of wildlife to be seen if you are patient. The path then reaches a pair of beautiful railway bridges (Moulsford Bridge) which have been built immediately next to each other. The first bridge was originally built around 1839 by Brunel to carry two broad gauge railway tracks across The Thames and has four arches which were constructed with skewed brickwork -the tracks were subsequently changed to 4 standard gauge tracks.

A second bridge was built in 1892 beside Brunel's bridge keeping to the same design and height although it only carries two tracks - also the brickwork was not formed in the same way and is just of uncut red brick. The two bridges are connected to each other with steel girders.

Luck often waits at the door of your job: Michael Vicary at auctions.

 

There's no doubt that Vicary is a great watercolourist. Many of his artworks go up for auction frequently. Some of the bidding houses that have auctioned Vicary's pictures are: Jones and Jacob, Watlington (October 9, 2019); Lots Road Auctions, London (May 8, 2019); Burstow and Hewett, Battle (February 21, 2019); Sulis Fine Art, Conkwell (2019?); Barnebys / House & Son, Bournemouth, GB (August 21, 2018); Lacy Scott & Knight, Bury-St-Edmunds (June 3, 2017); Burstow and Hewett, Battle (March 28, 2012); Grays Auctioners, Cleveland, USA (October 17, 2009); Cleveland, USA (October 27, 20109; Gray’s Auctioneers, Cleveland, USA (December 13, 2009); Stride & Son, Chichester (September 24, 2004); Cato Crane & Company, Liverpool (December 12, 2002)…

Luck often awaits you in the most unexpected places. In the street you walk, at your work door, in your favorite pub... Although most of the time we will probably pass by without noticing it.