Composition With A Basket Of Flowers On A Natural Background. Vincent Clare. Hst 22 X 30 Cm

Artist Bio The Clare family, Victorian artists, specialised and became famous for their highly detailed and precise still lifes of fruit and flowers. The family consisted of George (1835 - 1900) and his three sons, David (b. 1870), Oliver (1853 - 1927) and Vincent (1855 - 1930) - all of whom, with the exception of David, were artists. George lived and died in Barnet, Hertfordshire - although he is known to have spent a number of years in Birmingham - where he exhibited his work in the 1860s. As for George, his stippling technique and choice of subject - still lifes painted against a bank of moss - are derived from the oils and watercolours of William Henry Hunt (1790-1864). George's works are very precise and detailed, capturing their subjects in microscopic detail. George exhibited his first works in 1864. Two of his sons George - Oliver and Vincent - were also artists and became equally well known for their still lifes of flowers and fruit. Oliver was born in 1853 and spent most of his life as an artist in Birmingham. Although there are no records of his training, it is certain that most, if not all, was given by his father - his stippling technique and choice of subject being almost identical. The youngest artist in the family was Vincent Clare. He was born in 1855 and spent most of his life in London at Fern Cottage, Nursery Road, Southgate (Vincent's paintings are often signed and inscribed, with his address, on the reverse). Like his father and brother, he became very popular with his still life and flower paintings. His technique is similar to that of his father, but his brushstrokes were slightly freer. He seems to work more with pastel colours. It seems that, although Vincent lived in London, he never exhibited there. The only recorded exhibitions were at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, where he displayed three works.