[Blount, Godfrey- Stunning Watercolor Painting Forming an Allegorical Set, With Verse] Eight Watercolor, Gouche and Ink Paintings by Blount, Founder of Haslemere Peasant Industries

Haslemere, 1910. Offered here are two stunning framed and matted sets, each framing four watercolors (eight in total), all by Godfrey Blount, a fascinating figure in the art world at the turn of the 19th Century (see below). These watercolor, gouache and ink paintings date from the period 1897-1910, during the period Blount was active in the Haslemere Peasant Industries (see below). Each with calligraphic insets of poems, the paintings are wonderfully balanced, with appealing pastel colors and heightened edges. Size of windows: 4 7/8 x 3 3/8 inches, all under two mounts; two narrow wood frames measuring 20 Ω x 8 Ω inches in total. The wonderful and highly (truncated) evocative watercolors are highly symbolic and metaphorical, such as the first two with inset verses: ìMy ivied bud is tucked away, In tender sheaths to dream of Day. Soon it will wake, and want, and pray.î And, ìBeneath the roots of Life I lie. Hid in Earth and Mystery.î Both depict allegorical gardens with young children hidden in the branches or the roots, with flowering trees adorned with blossoms, and a large mountain in the background.

Godfrey Blount (1859ñ1937) was a British artist, writer, and designer associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. He is best known for his work in textile design, particularly his innovative use of block printing on fabric, which aligned with the movementís emphasis on handcraftsmanship and natural motifs. Blount was deeply inspired by nature, folklore, and medieval art, and his designs often featured intricate plant-based patterns. His commitment to traditional craftsmanship led him to experiment with various techniques, particularly in textiles, which he used for ecclesiastical decorations and home furnishings. Important to his unique style. In 1896, in the Surrey village of Haslemere, Blount and his wife became founding figures of the Haslemere Peasant Industries artistic community, rejecting mass production in favor of rural craft toward an environment in which work and leisure aligned with philanthropic principles and traditional values. He, along with his wife, Ethel Blount, was a key figure in this community, which emphasized self-sufficiency, simplicity, and a return to nature. Blount studied under the renowned artist Hubert Von Herkomer, whose painting prioritized realistic portrayal of the lives of the poor. Perhaps this realism and sympathy for the working classes directed Blount away from his public school, Oxbridge educated upbringing towards a life amongst the rural poor. A thoroughly enchanting grouping, which must be considered of the highest rarity. Provenance: Kathleen Hyacinthe Dale (1898-1983); by descent to her daughter, Mary Willcock; thence to her grandchildren, who brought for public sale with H. Blairman & Son, London. (Inventory #: 6889)