Category: Barbaro, Giovanni

Barbaro Egyptian Scenes (Pair)

Posted on 4:01pm Saturday 13th Sep 2014

Giovanni Barbaro, pair of Middle Eastern scenes, signed, watercolours, 10 x 24in. (25 x 61cm). Available at auction Ewbank's 24.09.2014 lot 590. Large watercolours, framed in Contemporary style. Signatures as later style (The Bedouin Series, examples in Giovanni Barbaro 2 at this link) and same locations. 

Estimate:

£500 - £800

Not sold.

Barbaro Market Scenes (Pair)

Posted on 12:09pm Friday 29th Aug 2014

Giovani Barbaro (Italian, fl 1890-1907). Pair of framed watercolours. Bustling Arabian market scenes. Signed, 30cm x 75cm.

Paul Beighton's 23rd August, sold within estimate (£160.00 net). A good pair. Somewhat disappointing result probably due to current Mid-East situation which will inevitably affect the prices of Orientalist works - good time for buyers with long term views though. Another side of the coin is that with the extent of destruction these works will increase in historical value.

Barbaro

Posted on 9:39pm Tuesday 1st Jul 2014

Please note that Barbaro file has been updated with new images and info relating to recently sold watercolours signed Amy Barbaro. View the updates at 1. Giovanni Barbaro  and  at  5. Amy Barbaro. 

Amy Barbaro watercolours sold.

Posted on 9:42am Saturday 7th Jun 2014

The pair of Orientalist watercolours depicting Egyptian Street Scenes sold at the Pyramid Society auction in the US for $12,000.00 which was a very good price and has certainly put Amy Barbaro onto the International Art scene. The question now is are there any more of her signed works out there - this sale has set a precedent. 

Here are images of the two watercolours (by kind permission of The Pyramid Society) :

Amy Barbaro works at auction

Posted on 10:40pm Thursday 5th Jun 2014

Reminder that the two signed Egyptian Street scenes are at auction tomorrow in US. See the link below : 

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/26839696_20th-century-orientalist-watercolors-by-amy-barbaro

Barbaro Egyptian Street Scene

Posted on 8:42am Monday 2nd Jun 2014

Giovanni Barbaro (1864-1915) Framed watercolour. Egyptian street scene with figures and buildings, signed, 25cm x 60cm. (Estimate £80-120). Sold at auction Paul Beighton yesterday £110 net. Good condition, familiar Barbaro street scene with figures.

Amy Barbaro

Posted on 12:29pm Sunday 1st Jun 2014

Orientalist watercolour studies of Egyptian street scenes signed Amy Barbaro coming up at auction Kentucky US 6th June 0600 PT.

Barbaro S/L signed A. Dudley sold at auction

Posted on 8:20am Saturday 17th May 2014

GIOVANNI BARBARO. Framed, signed as Arthur Dudley, dated 1898, watercolour on paper, still life composition, showing various fruits on a table, 26.5cm x 75cm.  Sold  £280.00  net.  Biddle & Webb 09.05.2014. Very good example of Arthur Dudley signature and dated.

Barbaro, Camel and Rider in Desert L/S.

Posted on 12:05pm Thursday 1st May 2014. 

Barbaro, Colossi of Memnon

Posted on 9:15am Friday 25th Apr 2014.

The watercolour on paper study titled Camels Passing the Colossi of Memnon at Sunset is in good condition displayed in period ebonized frame signed Giovanni Barbaro in his usual manner. Dimensions as per usual medium sized work : Frame : 360mm x 715mm x 45mm. Image : 245mm x 600mm. 

Posted on 5:19pm Saturday 12th Apr 2014

Another Egyptian theme watercolour depicting camels passing Statues of Menron signed Giovanni Barbaro (estimate £200-£300). Sold at Dominic Winters. The title actually refers to The Colossi of Memnon, Pharaoh Amenhotep III in the Theban Necropolis  across the R. Nile from Luxor. c1350 BC. 

Barbaro Marketplace scenes (a pair).

Posted on 9:53am Thursday 13th Mar 2014.

Posted on 4:43pm Thursday 6th Mar 2014

A pair of Barbaro watercolour works, Egyptian Marketplace scenes, at auction today, Cheffins. Estimate £1000.00 - £1500.00

Sold £1143.00 gross.

Barbaro, 3 camels at auction.

Posted on 3:15pm Tuesday 4th Mar 2014.

Barbaro, 3 camels at auction

Posted on 9:54pm Wednesday 19th Feb 2014

Interesting watercolour at auction today, 3 camels with leading figure. Reeman Dansie. 

Giovanni Barbaro (1864 - 1915), watercolour - Egyptian desert with three figures riding camels, signed, in glazed frame, 29.5cm x 48cm.

Estimate £100-£200.  Sold £165.- gross.

Amy Dawson/Barbaro

Posted on 6:20pm Monday 13th Jan 2014.

Further confirmation of Amy Dawson from April :

I think you have heard from a fellow-researcher (Margaret Fay) the news below - but if not, here it is. It certainly is the last bit of the jig-saw which confirms that Amy Dawson became Amy Barbaro. Her father died on 14 April 1904 and one of the people awarded probate was his other daughter - Edith Gertrude Dawson b. abt 1874 - she was unmarried and living on her own in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1911 census but there is no indication that she was also an artist (their father's personal effects when he died was abt £200,000 in today's money). - best wishes, April

Newcastle Courant dated Saturday 1st January 1898. It states marriage on the 10th instant, (must mean Dec 1897) at the Municipality Rome and church of Ss. Vincenso & Anastasio, Amy daughter of Edward Dawson of Whitley to Giovanni son of Dona Maria and the late Don Leopoldo Barbaro of Amalfi, Italy.

Very pleased to announce that today I have been contacted by Margaret Fay to advise that she has discovered the following Marriage Announcement in the archives of the Newcastle Courant dated Saturday 1st January 1898 :

On the 10th December, 1897, at the Municipality, Rome, and church of SS. Vincenzo and Anastasio, Amy, daughter of  Mr. Edward Dawson of Whitley, to Giovanni, son of Dona Maria and the late Don Leopoldo Barbaro of Amalfi, Italy.    

Many thanks to Margaret for sharing this information and solving the mystery of Amy and Giovanni's marriage.

The biography of Giovanni Barbaro will now be updated.

Posted on 11:43am Thursday 21st Nov 2013

Thanks to very detailed research carried out by April Marjoram, the following information has been obtained which identifies Amy Barbaro as Amy Dawson born 1867 in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Here is an extract from the research :

1.Amy Dawson was born Newcastle upon Tyne in 1867 (ref BMD New.U.Tn 2nd quarter 1867 10b/1)

2. Her parents were Edward Dawson (who worked for Newcastle & Gateshead Gas Co) b.1836 and Jane A F Dawson (nee Thompson - see 3.below) Her siblings were (all born NUT): Edward E b.1866; Simpson b.1869 and Edith G b.1874) - in 1871 the family were living at 11 Coburg St Gateshead and in 1881 in Elswick (ref 1871 census RG11/5053/29/14 and ref 1881 census RG11/5051/74/18)

3. Amy Dawson's parents married in 1863 - Edward Dawson married Jane Ann Fredrina Thompson in/around Newcastle upon Tyne (ref BMD 3rd quarter 1863 New.U.Tn 10b/200)

4. 1891 census shows Amy Dawson described as "artist" visiting (or possibly lodging?) at the home of Henry Graham at 16 Bute Street

5. 1st October 1893 Dorothy Worden (who was also born in Newcastle upon Tyne) - a member of St Ives Arts club signed in Amy Dawson from Northumberland

6. 31 March 1901 at 35 Carlton Crescent Southampton at home of Mary Heath widow aged 49 living on own means b. Ireland; Tyrone Power her nephew aged 29 single b India book publisher and Giovanni barbaro aged 37 retired courier b. Italy (Italian subject) and Amy his wife aged 34 b Newcastle Upon Tyne "artist, watercolours" (ref RG13/1060/39/12)

7. 20 April 1901 John Barbaro "artist" aged 34(!!) and his wife Amy "artist"aged 33 left Southampton to sail (2nd class cabin) to New York on the SS New York (ref shipping register)

8. 23 January 1907 Amy Barbaro was one of the two witnesses at the wedding of Dorothy Worden (though by that time she was the widow of William Evelyn Osborn - so is recorded as Dorothy Osborn) to Commander Harold Ernest Browne at St Luke's church, Chelsea (ref P74/LUK/245)

9. Giovanni Barbaro died 1915 whilst his wife Amy Barbaro (ref probate register) died on 20 Feb 1937 at Nursing home (Milton House Strawberry Hill) but here home address was Montpellier House, Montpellier Row Twickenham Effects=£8.8s.2d and probate administration was granted to Gipsy [Edith] Archdale Cook, widow (she had been married to an accountant - see 1911 census ref RG14/6978/127)

10. Amy Barbaro was listed on the electoral register in 1936 at 29 Montpelier Row Twickenham

11. Victorian Painters C.Wood, C.Newall, M.Richarson pub 2008 p133 lists "Dawson, Amy fl1889-1891; exhibited three pictures at SS 1889-91, flowers, fruit and one portrait. London address."

My own conclusion from this information is that, unless it can be proved otherwise, Amy Barbaro was Amy Dawson and she, not as has been previously assumed Giovanni Barbaro, used the pseudonym A. Dudley or Arthur Dudley (maintaining the initials A.D.). She probably adopted this nom de guerre as a male name was preferable to a female name in Art circles in Victorian Britain. 

Amy Barbaro watercolour

Posted on 11:06am Tuesday 24th Sep 2013.

David Knapman, England, has been in contact to advise that he has purchased a watercolour painting of Amy Barbaro in an Orange Grove which he is very happy to share with other Giovanni Barbaro collectors and enthusiasts. Please view the images below : 

The painting is signed G. Barbaro. Framed. Dimensions : 240mm x 170mm.  Many thanks to David. The image will be added to the Barbaro page. 

Variation on a familiar study.

Posted on 7:54am Monday 12th Aug 2013

An interesting variation of the well-known Barbaro study of "In an Orange Grove" has come to light thanks to the contact made by Peter Webb in Brittany, France. The watercolour on paper depicts the same model but set against a background of flowering cherries. There are subtle variations to the profile but it is without doubt the same subject as seen in many Barbaro female studies. View the images below :

The dimensions of the painting are unusual for Barbaro at 172mm x 228mm but it's possible the painting may have been trimmed at the top or lh side. Interesting to note the signature is G. Barbaro.

The painting was purchased by the owner's mother at a house clearance in the 1950's for £5.- including another print.

Thanks to Peter Webb for making contact and sharing this interesting painting. 

Barbaro at auction 07.08.2013.

Posted on 2:48pm Wednesday 7th Aug 2013

Barbaro Street Scenes

Posted on 9:16am Friday 2nd Aug 2013.

Posted on 7:23am Tuesday 30th Jul 2013

Further to my blog of June 14 2013 relating to the offering of Barbaro watercolour - possibly Amy Barbaro, note that Canterbury Auction Galleries are re-offering the study "Shoulder length portrait of a woman possibly the artist's wife Amy Barbaro signed G. Barbaro" on 6th August 2013 with a revised estimate of  £300-£400. 

Compare the above study with the following thought to be an image of Amy in her younger years.  

Posted on 8:13am Friday 26th Jul 2013

2 Barbaro street scenes were sold at auction recently. Both classic well-known scenes. View the images below :

Barbaro Italian scene.

Posted on 12:05pm Thursday 28th Mar 2013

Here is an image of the Italian street scene sent by Tom in Melbourne.

This is a very interesting study and unusual for Barbaro. It appears to be an Italian street scene and could well be an Amalfi street scene. c1890. As is fairly common with Barbaro's paintings, there could be descriptive text verso but this is sealed within the frame. Please note that I have taken the liberty of modifying and brightening the colours of the image above to give a better image. The details below are as received from Tom in his email. 

Tom has since confirmed that the above image is correct.

Thanks to Tom Daly for these images. This is a rare and early Barbaro work.

Posted on 11:51am Friday 8th Mar 2013

Further to my earlier post 27th Feb 2013 another two Barbaro watercolours appeared on the market - a pair of Egyptian Street Scenes in period ebonized frames - making a grand total of 8 Barbaro works on the market this week. All have sold. Please view the Giovanni Barbaro pages for images and details in due course -  please follow this link Giovanni Barbaro. 

To see images of the latest pair of Egyptian Street Scenes please follow this link. It is interesting to note that these street scenes are in the same or very similar locations to the other paintings listed in the Barbaro pages. 

To see the images of the pair of watercolours entitled "Mediterranean Maidens", which probably portray Amy Barbaro and were the basis of the Pretty Girls series of colour postcards, please follow this link  Giovanni Barbaro. 

To see the classic "Camel rider at dusk with mosque beyond", watercolour and gouache on paper, signed Giovanni Barbaro Italy,  c1898, please follow this link and scroll down the page or go to this link Gallery on the Home page and scroll down the Gallery. The paintings signed with "Italy" following the signature are pre-1900 works. The post 1900 works were signed without the addition.

Listed under:

Barbaro, Giovanni

Barbaro paintings at auction.

1. Posted on 4:57pm Wednesday 27th Feb 2013

2. This has been a good week for Barbaro works with a total of 6 watercolours coming to market. 3 still-life studies of various fruit combinations, 2 studies of Mediterranean maidens (thought to be studies of Amy Barbaro) and a classic "Camel rider with mosque and city beyond" watercolour with bodycolour highlights signed Giovanni Barbaro Italy which usually indicates pre-1900. Displayed within a classic period gilt mount. The latter achieved within £300-£500 estimate which was a good price considering the 180mm x 405mm dimensions. The still-lifes achieved within estimate but the pair of portraits didn't reach estimate which was good for the buyer. This week proves that there is a growing demand for Barbaro works.  Also, amazingly, a pair of Hassan el Yashmid watercolours (yes, watercolours not prints) appeared at auction in the traditional period ebonized frames and achieved a good price. Further details on these in due course.

   • Listed under:

   •  Barbaro, Giovanni

New Barbaro paintings.

1. Posted on 11:34am Friday 15th Feb 2013

2. Four more Barbaro watercolours have been added to the Giovanni Barbaro pages (access from the Menu). They have been entered on page 2. Please click here to go to the page. They are an interesting collection as they appear to have been painted in the same location near the banks of the River Nile. The frequently seen main character also appears again which is an interesting aspect of Barbaro's Egyptian themed works. Another spectacular sunset scene is also included which illustrates the technical abilty of Barbaro in capturing the wonderful colour and atmosphere of a desert sunset.

3. Another interesting aspect of this collection is the similarity of the location and stance of the characters to some of the works by Hassan el Yashmid as previously mentioned in this blog. See the previous blog dated 24.5.2012.

4. Please watch the Barbaro pages as they will be updated as new works become available.

   • Listed under:

   •  Barbaro, Giovanni

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Giovanni Barbaro's classic Orientalist works.

6. Posted on 2:38pm Friday 28th Dec 2012

7. Several Barbaro Orientalist  works have appeared on the market recently and despite their rather aged appearance have attained above their estimate price. Well worth purchasing and investing in restoration work to give the paintings a new lease of life. If anyone has undertaken such a project I would  be very interested in hearing about it.

8. It is always interesting to open an old framed Barbaro painting as he often wrote the title or a description of the scene in pencil handscript on the back of the base. These notes help to fill in gaps in his meagre biography.

9. If anyone has any further information on his life or details of periods spent in Egypt or the Middle East please share it on this blog.

   • Listed under:

   •  Barbaro, Giovanni

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Giovanni Barbaro

11. Posted on 7:52am Monday 26th Nov 2012

12. Have noticed over the last few months that the number of Barbaro paintings on the market have increased and they are consistently achieving good sales with no recorded "Unsolds". This is good news for the genre especially the still-life studies which until recently were said to be highly unfashionable. The glorious colours and sumptuous opulence of the ripe fruit have once again started to appeal to the 21st Century art lovers after three decades of neglect. The prospects for this  sector are good. If anyone has purchased a Barbaro or Dudley recently please add your comments.  

    • Listed under:

    •  Barbaro, Giovanni

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Arthur Dudley aka Giovanni Barbaro.

14. Posted on 5:45pm Wednesday 29th Aug 2012

15. Following continuing research and help from fellow collectors and enthusiasts, the title of this post can now be changed to Giovanni Barbaro aka Arthur Dudley. There has been a period of uncertainty regarding the true identity of this artist and it has generally been accepted by most authorities that an English artist named Arthur Dudley born around the 1860's specialised in still-life watercolour and gouache works. Towards the end of the century it was assumed that he became bored with this genre and created an exotic alter ego specializing in Middle Eastern scenes or perhaps that he had other reasons to leave England and reside in Egypt and Italy.

16. The reality is that an Italian artist named Giovanni Barbaro, born in Amolfi Italy about 1864, decided to try his luck in England. He is recorded in the 1901 Census as a retired courier, Italian Subject, living in Southampton with his wife Amy who was a watercolour artist. It is known that they travelled to New York in 1901 and many of his Egyptian themed paintings were completed around this period. The next recorded entry is in the 1911 Census where they are listed as artists living in Kensington S.W.

17. No further details of their life has been obtained at this time.

18. Giovanni died in Chiswick 10th October 1915 aged 51 and Amy died in Twickenham 20th February 1937 aged 70.

19. There are still many unanswered questions regarding Giovanni Barbaro and Arthur Dudley and the search will continue for more information. As requested in my earlier blogs, please contact me if you have any information regarding these "two" artists.

19. • Listed under:

    •  Barbaro, Giovanni

20. 2 Comments

Arthur Dudley.

21. Posted on 12:04pm Monday 26th Mar 2012

22. Following on the theme of works by Arthur Dudley aka Giovanni Barbaro, a section has been added under the Menu heading of Giovanni Barbaro which will detail any recorded items regarding this artist. This will be updated as more information is obtained.

23. Following further research and information from a fellow-collector, it now appears that Giovanni Barbaro was the real name of the artist and Arthur Dudley the pseudonym. 1901 and 1911 Census records indicate that an Italian subject, Giovanni Barbaro, an artist, born in Amolfi Italy in 1864 lived in Southampton and South Kensington respectively. His wife Amy, a watercolour artist, was living with him. Giovanni died aged 51 years in Chiswick on the 10th October 1915 and Amy died aged 70 years in Twickenham on 20th February 1937.

24. Further details will be added as they are received. There are still many unanswered questions about this interesting artist especially relating to his nom de guerre.

25. Update added 28.8.2012.

    • Listed under:

    •  Barbaro, Giovanni

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Arthur Dudley.

27. Posted on 4:12pm Friday 23rd Mar 2012

28. Since the previous post regrading Arthur Dudley watercolour, the painting has been sold. A copy of the painting can be viewed in Recently Sold Items. 

    • Listed under:

    •  Barbaro, Giovanni

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English artist Arthur Dudley.

Posted on 6:40pm Friday 16th Mar 2012

As there is currently a watercolour work on sale in the Shop by the English artist Arthur Dudley signed and dated 1901, it is appropriate that an entry should be made about this artist. It is generally accepted that he also painted under the pseudonym Giovanni Barbaro and his works were generally still-life studies of fruit and Egyptian desert or town scenes. His most prolific period was 1890-1907 and he exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of British Artists. He is known to have lived in London and Bath. 

 I hope to be able to add further biographical details about this artist and will be very interested to receive any further information about Arthur Dudley/Giovanni Barbaro. 

• Listed under:

•  Barbaro, Giovanni