Watercolour on paper

Why we acquired this work

In 1989 the sale was announced of a collection of watercolours by Rev. Bree. The views were all mounted and framed and for sale separately.

The Herbert had a difficult moral judgement to make. It was clear, though not stated, that these were the views from Bree's fine scapbook of his views of Maxstoke which we had been unable to purchase as a whole on a previous occasion. Galleries do not support the splitting of volumes of original art, since usually this results in the loss of information and the dispersal of works formerly kept together as a related group.

In the event we decided to acquire three works, since they would then join the other complete scrapbook by Bree which we held here. These new views were more finished and resolved than the views in the first scrapbook and therefore would help build a body of Bree's work here.

The Artist

Rev. William Bree's art has appeared several times on this site. Our intention has been to show a different aspect of his art each time.

Vicar of first Allesley near Coventry and then Packington near Maxstoke, he clearly had time to pursue a passion for an art to which he had much to offer.

The Subject

Maxstoke Priory was founded in 1336 by Sir William de Clinton, afterwards Earl of Huntingdon. It was a Priory of Austin (Augustinian) Canons. At the Reformation the Priory was given by the king to Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk, who quickly sold it on to a London-based merchant. It was quckly stripped of its valuable materials such as the lead from the roof, and now remains as a melancholy ruin.

The Technique

This watercolour is worked up with just three colours, the greys and apparent faint blues of diluted Indian ink, the yellows and soft greens of yellow ochre, and the warm tones of red ochre.

Other works by the artist in the Herbert's collections

The Herbert holds a number of other views by Bree, a number showing Maxstoke, and the others showing either Coventry or, we assume, the leafy lanes of local Warwickshire.