Queen Alexandra’s watercolour sketchbook
And a fun look into an historic artists' materials catalogue
A while back I was trying to find a particular sketchbook when I stumbled upon Queen Alexandra’s watercolour sketchbook. She used this sketchbook from 1884 to 1889 and it has scenes from the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. A few of my favourites are below!
She had a particular eye for painting atmospheric perspective. The composition of the last four paintings I really like — they draw the eye into the space by having pathways enter from the bottom edge or something like a fence breaking the foreground line, as James Gurney would put it.
It is a blue leather-bound sketchbook with a pencil loop at the top, and more interestingly, an integrated watercolour set on the side that pulls out with a mixing palette and thumbhole.
I just thought this idea was too clever! After a bit more research I found it was made by Charles Roberson & Co in the 1880s — original ad from 1926 below.
What colours would’ve been included in the set? Similar 8-pan sets sold by Roberson & Co included: Gamboge, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Light Red, Crimson Alizarin, Van Dyke Brown, Cobalt, Indigo.
Going through the artists’ materials catalogue reminds me of those Scholastic book club pages. Here’s a few things from the catalogue I’d like to bring back:
There’s a lot more including brushes made in the style of Millais, Leighton, Reynolds etc, combination water bottle and brush case, double pointed travel brushes … I’ve linked a few more catalogues below you can view for free!
Read more…
Have a look at Queen Alexandra’s sketchbook on the Royal Collections Trust HERE.
Artists Colours Materials, Charles Roberson & Co, 1926
Illustrated price list of artists' materials, Winsor & Newton, 1895
Artists materials, E.H. Friedrichs (New York, N.Y.), 1891
Illustrated catalogue of artists' materials, M.J. Whipple & Co. (Boston, Mass.), 1860
Catalogue and price list of artists' materials, Goupil & Cie, 1857