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Walter Frederick Osborne , Irish, 1859-1903

Title

Boats in Rye Harbour, Sussex

Datec.1890

MediumGraphite and wash on card

Dimensions

39.8 x 26.5 cm

Signedlower left: WALTER OSBORNE

Credit LinePurchased, 1907

Object numberNGI.2625

DescriptionWalter Frederick Osborne entered the RHA Schools in 1876 and later trained at the Académie Royale des Beaux Arts, Antwerp. He went to Brittany in 1882 visiting Dinard, Quimperlé and Pont Aven, before settling in Ireland in 1884. He may be the only Irish artist to be justifiably called an 'Irish Impressionist'. During 1890 and 1891 Osborne painted English coastal scenes, mainly at Rye and Hastings. The broken reflections cast by the boats in the foreground are executed with free ribbon-like strokes, evoking the effect of lapping water at low tide. Osborne's use of Indian ink skilfully captures the murky water of Rye Harbour, the varying grey tones giving the whole scene a sense of encroaching cold and damp.