Antique Oil on Canvas Painting Medieval Figurative Village Scene Fishing by Stephen Reid 1918

Description

Stephen Reid ( 1873–1948 ) was a talented Scottish illustrator and painter who specialized in Georgian & Medieval settings and … more Stephen Reid ( 1873–1948 ) was a talented Scottish illustrator and painter who specialized in Georgian & Medieval settings and costume pieces.
Born in Aberdeen, he was educated Gray's School of Art and the Royal Scottish Academy. He was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists at the age of 33, his early work was heavily influenced by Edwin Austin Abbey ( 1852-1911 ). In terms of style and and subject matter his historical & mythological representations had it's roots in an earlier time, relating to the artists of the mid 1800s who had orientated themselves to Medieval painting as a reaction to industrialization.

This large & wonderfully whimsical oil on canvas depicts a medieval village scene, the people of the village are gathered around listening to a village elder speak about the large fish that got away, whilst on the bench next to him is a tiny sprat of a fish. To the background are 13th century style beamed houses, around the seated village elder are the great and the good of the village, including a lord & lady in their fine robes, a monk and a nun in their habits and village characters with tankards of beer. The painting is housed in the original gilded frame and is signed lower left "Stephen Reid 1918", the stretcher to the rear is also titled "Ye Fyshe Taille", there are also a couple of old exhibition labels to the stretcher. A similar medieval scene by Reid sold at Christie's auction in 1995 for $28,400.
Condition is very good indeed, this very handsome painting is ready to hang on your wall.

Books Reid illustrated include:
Hull, Eleanor (1904), The Boys' Cúchullain
Noyes, Alfred (1908), Magic Casement; An Anthology of Fairy Poetry
Wood, Eric (1910), Famous Voyages of the Great Discoverers
Rolleston, T. W. (1910), The High Deeds of Finn
Rolleston, T. W. (1911), Myths & Legends of the Celtic Race
He also contributed to magazines, including The Strand Magazine and The Connoisseur. less