Edward Charles Williams, Evening At The Forge, Chiddingstone, Kent

Edward Charles Williams, Evening At The Forge, Chiddingstone, Kent

A tranquil 19th-century landscape painting by English artist, Edward Charles Williams (1807-1881).

Here, we see a cluster of figures gathered around a blacksmith’s forge in the village of Chiddingstone, Kent. Imagine how satisfying it would be to stand by a roaring fire on a chilly British evening.

Inside, a woman is chatting to the blacksmith who appears to be stoking the fire (or perhaps creating a horseshoe). Her husband and children are waiting outside - probably still benefiting from the radiating heat.

The painting reminds us of another evening landscape by Williams titled “At The Blacksmith’s”, which sold at Christie’s in 1998.

Edward Charles Williams was part of the Williams family of landscape painters. His father, also Edward, taught his six sons (and many of his grandchildren), how to capture a traditional rural view. The family honed their skills at studios in Barnes, London, and as such became known as the ‘School Of Barnes’.

The painting is signed in the lower left and inscribed on the reverse. It’s held in a later frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 34” x 24” / 86cm x 61cm
Year of creation: 1878
Provenance: England
Condition: Craquelure but the paint is stable. One divot on the far left-hand side. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction highlight: £30,000 achieved for ‘Punch and Judy/The Itinerant Musician’ at Sotheby’s in 2006.

Conservation & History

We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.

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