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• Auction House:
  Leski Auctions
• Sale Name:
  Decorative Arts & Collectables
• Sale Date:
  14 Aug 2021 ~ 10am (AEST) - Session 1: Lots 1 - 732
  15 Aug 2021 ~ 10am (AEST) - Session 2: Lots 733 - 1470
• Lot #:
  1133
• Lot Description:
  Lexden Lewis Pocock
  (1850-1919)
  New Life
  watercolour
  76 x 99cm
  signed lower right “Lexden L. Pocock”
• Notes:
  Little is known about Lexden Lewis Pocock (1850 – 1919), other than he was born and lived in London, that he studied at the Slade School of Art and the Royal Academy Schools, and also travelled, studied and taught art in Rome. He was known to have exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of British Artists, and the Royal Institute. “New Life”, a rare example of Victorian-era mourning art, would have been commissioned by the grieving parents of the little blond boy/angel depicted in the painting. The mother and child, both in black, are depicted in a graveyard, uncharacteristically the mother relaxing on the grass while her son chases a butterfly. The 1800s saw tragedy and death far too often. Disease and infection increased death rates, and it was tragically common for children to die before turning five. Obviously devastated, parents wanted to memorialise what little they could of their children, so they generally employed photographers to capture their child’s image one last time before sending them to their graves. The children were dressed in their finest attire and were posed carefully to maintain the integrity of their forms. In some cases, an infant would be propped up with a post, or held by their mother who wore a black veil. Wealthier families would sometimes avail themselves of the services of an artist. This is the only example known by Pocock.
• Estimate:
  A$12,000 - 16,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Art

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.