Pair of Watercolours of Flowers by Valentine Bartholomew 1799-1879

A pair of watercolour botanical studies by highly regarded flower painter Valentine Batholomew (1799-1879). The pair depict a group of larkspur and jasmine flowers, and a single pelargonium. The paintings are beautifully detailed and coloured, as would be expected of a floral artist of this stature. The pair do have some very slight fading and areas of discolouration to the paper but overall are in excellent condition. The frames and mounts are in good untouched condition with the gilded frames having had some overpaint at some point. The larkspur piece is signed to the lower right and dated 1836 though there can be no doubt that both works are by the same artist. Valentine Batholomew (1799-1879) was largely self-taught though he did work for the lithographer Charles Hullmandel in his youth. Batholomew exhibited mainly at the Watercolour Society though he also exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1826 and 1854. He was highly regarded in his lifetime and was appointed Flower Painter in Ordinary to Queen Victorian and The Duchess of Kent. This pair are wonderfully decorative examples of his specimen work and are ready to hang.