James Ashton (1839-1935) is best known for his prolific paintings of the Sea; which is why this Ceylon landscape of Palm Trees is such an alluring find. Ashton was known to have travelled to Ceylon at least 9 times during the 1920’s, the era in which this stunning scene was painted.
Watercolour on paper, signed lower right, J.Ashton.
The painting has been given a refresh with a new linen texture mount board and resides within an antique wooden frame with gold slip. The painting sits behind art acrylic glass.
Excellent condition with no aged foxing.
Measures including frame: 32cm wide, 36.5cm high.
*There are some reflections in the photos from the glass*
Biography:
James Ashton (1859-1935) the eminent Australian artist, well known for his many seascape paintings; with several of his paintings represented in the collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia, with his most famous work ‘The Moon Enchanted Sea’ being on display in the galleries Australian Art collection.
James Ashton emigrated to Adelaide in 1884, and went on to establish the Norwood Art School (there is a commemorative plaque to James Ashton outside the Norwood Town Hall). Hans Heysen was one of his students at the Norwood school where he quickly excelled, at 16 years of age he painted ‘The Wet Road” which Ashton bought; it now resides in the Art Gallery of South Australia.
In 1895 Ashton founded the Academy of Arts (1895) in Victoria Square, Adelaide. A respected teacher of painting for over 40 years he also taught at Prince Alfred College for many years. A member of the Commonwealth Arts Advisory Board, a trustee and honorary fellow of the Royal South Australian Society of Arts, he won the society Seascape prize in 1926 and 1929.
In 1927 Ashton moved to a terrace house by the sea in Brighton (SA) where he continued to paint his favourite subject, the Sea.
