IRISH & INTERNATIONAL ART 29 SEPTEMBER 2025

12 4 William Percy French (1854-1920) LANDSCAPE SCENES (SET OF NINE) watercolour; (9) one signed lower right 5 by 7in. (12.7 by 17.8cm) Frame Size: 9 by 11.5in. (22.9 by 29.2cm) This set was likely part of an album similar to the example sold through these rooms on 24 November 2008 (lot 106). That set of 13 watercolours mounted in an album with handwritten verses sold for €54,000. William Percy French (1 May 1854 – 24 January 1920), was a landscape painter, sketcher and illustrator. Alongside this he was also a poet, opera composer and author of many popular songs which he performed around the world. Born at Cloonyquin House, County Roscommon, he was the son of an Anglo-Irish landlord. Having graduated from Trinity College Dublin he became an Inspector of Drains with the County Cavan Board of Works. Even while fulfilling this role he produced a large number of watercolours and considered art to be his true vocation. The Board of Works downsized in 1887 and having spent a brief period as editor of the weekly comic ‘The Jarvey’French began his career as a songwriter and entertainer. At this time French married Ethel Armitage- Moore, but tragically she died along with their daughter in childbirth. His musical career was a great success and he travelled the world performing in the United States, Canada, the West Indies, Switzerland and England. All the while he was painting the light and landscape of these disparate places. He exhibited regularly with the Royal Hibernian Society and the Watercolour Society of Ireland as well as several galleries in London. Percy French died at the age of 65 having contracted pneumonia at a series of concerts in Glasgow. Exhibitions of his work were held in 1974, 1979 and 1982 at the Oriel Gallery in Dublin and in 1983 the Percy French Society was founded. About 80 of his watercolours are included at their Heritage Centre in North County Down. €7,000-€10,000 (£6,090-£8,700 approx.) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot4