Antique Nautical Painting on the Lagoon Venice by William Knox Rba C1917 Framed

Details

Description

1917 William Knox RBA Signed Venetian Lagoon Watercolour – British Marine Fine Art

An atmospheric original Venetian watercolour painted in … Read more 1917 William Knox RBA Signed Venetian Lagoon Watercolour – British Marine Fine Art

An atmospheric original Venetian watercolour painted in 1917 by British artist William Knox RBA (1862–1925). Traditional sailing vessels, warm ochre sails and the historic skyline of Venice create an elegant maritime composition, presented in a decorative glazed frame with its titled mount and surviving historical documentation.

Highlights

- Original signed and dated British watercolour, 1917.
- William Knox RBA (1862–1925).
- Historical title *On the Lagoon, Venice*.
- Venetian sailing boats, waterfront architecture and reflective lagoon waters.
- Distinctive ochre-coloured sail with decorative cross.
- Soft blue, muted green, warm ochre and cream colour palette.
- Decorative dark-toned frame with gilt-coloured accents.
- Titled mount and handwritten reverse label retained.
- Related Venetian marine compositions recorded by Christie's.
- Suitable for traditional, coastal and European-inspired interiors.
- Framed dimensions: 59 × 52 × 1.2 cm.

Introduction

Capturing the romance of historic Venice, this original 1917 watercolour offers an elegant combination of maritime heritage, architectural beauty and atmospheric colour.

The composition is particularly distinguished by its warm ochre sail, delicate blue waters and softly rendered Venetian skyline, creating a decorative work of early twentieth-century British fine art.

Catalogue Details

Artist: William Knox RBA (1862–1925).

Title: *On the Lagoon, Venice*.

Date: 1917.

Medium: Watercolour on paper.

Signature: Appears signed and dated *W. Knox 1917*, lower left.

Origin: United Kingdom, according to existing dealer records.

School: British School.

Period: Early twentieth century.

Style: Traditional British marine and architectural landscape painting.

Subject: Venice, sailing boats, lagoon and historic architecture.

Frame: Later decorative glazed frame with gilt-coloured detailing.

Catalogue Note

William Knox's *On the Lagoon, Venice* presents a picturesque interpretation of the city's celebrated maritime landscape.

A group of traditional sailing vessels occupies the foreground, their masts and sails rising above the reflective lagoon.

The principal vessel carries a substantial ochre-coloured sail decorated with a cross and additional markings, creating a striking visual centrepiece.

Its warm tones contrast with the delicate blues of the sky and water, while the surrounding vessels contribute movement and depth.

Beyond the boats, the Venetian waterfront emerges through softly handled washes of pale architectural colour.

Prominent domes and a distant campanile appear consistent with Santa Maria della Salute and the Campanile di San Marco.

Knox balances the composition through the interplay of vertical masts, broad sails, horizontal waterways and distant buildings.

The resulting scene combines the elegance of a historic European cityscape with the character of traditional maritime life.

Its restrained palette and decorative presentation make the work particularly suited to interiors featuring antique furnishings, natural materials, period architectural details or traditional coastal design.

Historical Context – Venice and Its Maritime Heritage

The Venetian lagoon developed as one of Europe's most distinctive maritime environments.

For centuries, fishing boats, commercial vessels and passenger craft navigated its shallow waters, connecting Venice with neighbouring islands and the Adriatic.

Traditional Venetian working vessels were often equipped with colourful sails, sometimes displaying identifying symbols associated with their owners or communities.

The ochre-coloured sail depicted in the present watercolour recalls the *vela al terzo* tradition associated with regional sailing craft.

Its precise vessel classification and the significance of the painted markings have not been independently established.

The architectural background reflects Venice's enduring appeal to European artists.

Santa Maria della Salute and the Campanile di San Marco became familiar landmarks in paintings of the lagoon, providing recognisable architectural forms against the city's changing light and reflective waters.

Knox's composition belongs to this wider tradition of British artists interpreting Venetian scenery during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The Artist – William Knox RBA (1862–1925)

William Knox was a British watercolour artist particularly associated with Venetian landscapes, marine subjects and atmospheric architectural views.

Born in 1862, he worked during the late Victorian and early twentieth-century periods.

His recorded paintings frequently feature Venetian boats, gondolas, historic buildings and reflective waterways.

Knox's compositions demonstrate an interest in colour, atmosphere and the interaction between architecture and water.

The RBA designation reflects his association with the Royal Society of British Artists.

His artistic subjects also included landscapes and Orientalist scenes.

The artist's work is represented in historical and modern auction records, including examples catalogued by Christie's and other established auction houses.

Original Signature and Titled Mount

The watercolour appears signed and dated *W. Knox 1917* in the lower-left corner.

The titled mount identifies the composition as:

*ON THE LAGOON, VENICE*

*W. Knox R.B.A.*

A handwritten descriptive label and later dealer documentation remain attached to the reverse.

These elements provide useful supporting documentation for the painting's historical presentation.

Their precise dates have not been independently established.

Comparative Works and Auction Records

Christie's catalogued William Knox's *Bustling Activity on the Lagoon, Venice* as Lot 349 in its *British and Continental Watercolours* sale, Auction 9877.

The related work was executed in pencil and watercolour heightened with white, signed *W. Knox*, and measured 25.5 × 37 cm.

Other documented Venetian compositions by Knox include *Fishing Vessels on the Lagoon, Venice* and *A Gondola at Sunset, with a View of Venice Beyond*.

Dominic Winter Auctioneers also catalogued Knox's *Low Tide, Venice*, dated 1890, in August 2022.

These comparable works illustrate the artist's recurring interest in Venetian boats, architectural settings and atmospheric marine views.

They are cited as art-historical comparisons, not as independent authentication or provenance for the present painting.

Provenance

Northern Shire art dealer, United Kingdom, according to existing dealer records.

Subsequently acquired for the collection of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, United Kingdom.

Titled mount, handwritten reverse label and later descriptive documentation retained.

Earlier private ownership and the complete intervening provenance remain unconfirmed.

Exhibition History

No independently verified exhibition history has presently been established for this particular watercolour.

The surviving titled mount and historical documentation do not independently establish a specific exhibition history.

Frame and Presentation

The painting is mounted within a decorative later frame with dark-toned moulding and gilt-coloured accents.

Its cream mount includes fine ruled borders and a printed title beneath the image.

Protective glazing covers the watercolour.

The reverse retains hanging fittings, a backing board and associated historical documentation.

The precise date of framing and the identity of the framer are unknown.

Dimensions

Framed: 59 cm Wide × 52 cm High × 1.2 cm Depth.

Approximately 23.23 × 20.47 × 0.47 inches.

Earlier dealer measurements: Approximately 47 × 36.5 cm, requiring confirmation as artwork or mount-aperture dimensions.

Published References and Primary Sources

Christie's, *British and Continental Watercolours*, Sale 9877, Lot 349, *Bustling Activity on the Lagoon, Venice*.

Christie's, William Knox, *Fishing Vessels on the Lagoon, Venice*.

Christie's, William Knox, *A Gondola at Sunset, with a View of Venice Beyond*.

Dominic Winter Auctioneers, 17 August 2022, Lot 312, *Low Tide, Venice*.

James Alder Fine Art, William Knox (1862–1925), artist biographical reference.

Original signature and date, titled mount, handwritten reverse label and associated dealer documentation.


Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork's catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, historical documentation and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis, dating and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available physical evidence, historic inscriptions, comparative research, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. The identification of Venetian architectural landmarks and traditional sailing craft is supported by visual examination and historical comparison, although the precise vessel classification and significance of individual sail markings remain open to further research. As with all works of art, future documentary discoveries or additional information may refine or expand current interpretations.

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Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.

Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.

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