A nineteenth century tourist guide to Shropshire

Local artist James Sayer's pictorial tribute to county comes up for auction
 
 
James Sayer's pictorial tribute to Shropshire
James Sayer's pictorial tribute to Shropshire
March 1, 2012 - PRLog -- Members of the art valuation team at Birmingham-based auctioneers Biddle & Webb are quite excited as they have come across, what could be described as, an early tourist guide.

On the 2nd March three 19th Century leather bound volumes depicting scenes of Shropshire by watercolour artist James Sayer come under the auctioneer’s gavel at the Ladywood sale rooms.

The beautifully presented volumes of the artist’s work are depictions of scenes of Shropshire entitled ‘Salopia Depicta’. The collection is made up of three distinctive architectural genres comprising Ecclesiastical Buildings, Ancient and Modern Public Buildings and Domestic Architecture. They document more than just the visual splendour of the county’s buildings as the accompanying text presents a social narrative of what life was like for our ancestors.

There are approximately eighty watercolours included in the three volumes. The illustrations themselves measure 5 ½” by 7 ½“approximately. They are beautifully bound and are of superior quality considering that they date back the 1830s making them almost 200 years old. Volumes 1, 2 and three have an estimated collective value attached to them of £5,000 to £8,000. The owners of the collection are the artist’s family.

Biddle & Webb’s managing director Jeremy Thornton said:”The volumes are really delightful. They are beautifully illustrated and executed and demonstrate the love the artist felt for the architectural grandeur of some of Shropshire’s unique buildings including scenes of the county’s landscape as a lovely rural background. The narratives that accompany the paintings are thoroughly fascinating and give you a social and historical elucidating glimpse into what life must have been like for people living in the 1830s.

“We are hoping that the collection will attract bidders from everywhere but we would imagine they will be of particular interest to Shropshire historians as well as art collectors. James Sayer has two paintings hanging in the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. These charming volumes demonstrate the length and breadth of his skill and energy as both a cityscape and landscape watercolour artist.”

To find out more visit: www.biddleandwebb.co.uk
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