Bessie Bamber

For the politician whose maiden name was Bessie Bamber, see Bessie Braddock.

Bessie Bamber (c. 1870 – after 1910) was a British artist who specialised in paintings of domestic pets, particularly kittens and cats.

Little is reported of her life, and it is not known if Bamber was her maiden or married name. She worked in Liverpool between the 1880s and about 1910; she was reportedly born in Birkenhead.[1][2][failed verification]

A prolific artist who was most active between 1900 and 1910,[3] Bessie Bamber worked in oils and specialised in painting cats, kittens and occasionally puppies. She preferred to work using stuffed animals rather than live ones. She usually painted on porcelain or opaline glass, and sometimes on a polished mahogany panel though most of her works are small in size (often about 9 inches by 6).[1] Her works are mostly signed with a monogram "BB".[1] There is no record of her exhibiting her paintings.[4] There are works annotated as "in the manner of Bessie Bamber, English school", such as A Little Accident.[5]

Bamber's works remain popular as sale items over a century after they were made, often reaching thousands of pounds at auction.[1][3] A picture of three kittens with a pile of books was sold for £2,468 by Bonhams in 2004.[6]

Works

  • A Little Accident[5]
  • The Mischief Makers[a]
  • Mischievous Kittens[7]'
  • Three Kittens
  • c. 1910 Pekingese on Pillow[b]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Proudlove, Christopher (18 February 2015). "Miscellaneana:Felines in art". Auction Central News. New York City: LiveAuctioneers. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  2. ^ Eric Knowles on BBC Television Antiques Roadshow
  3. ^ a b Vocelle, Laura A. "Bessie Bamber (@1870-unknown, British)". The Great Cat > Cats in Art - 20th Century. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Bessie Bamber". Baron Fine Art Gallery. Chester, England. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009.
  5. ^ a b Lovric, Michelle, ed. (1992). Cats: an illustrated treasurey. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States: Running Press (Courage Books imprint). p. 17 (illustration) and 47 (attribution). ISBN 1-56138-122-5. Retrieved 19 November 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ "Bessie Bamber (fl.1900-1910) 'Three kittens with a pile of books' 19 x 32cm (7 1/2 x 12 1/2in)". Bonhams. 26 July 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  7. ^ New Orleans Auction Galleries: May 30-31, 2015. New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. 2015. p. 120.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

References only used for supporting Works section content

  1. ^ Hurley, Beth (1996). The Little Book of Cats. Brockhampton Press. pp. 34–35. ISBN 1-86019-436-2. Retrieved 19 November 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Secord, William (1992). Dog Painting 1840-1940: A social history of the dog in art. Woodbridge, Suffolk, England: Antique Collectors' Club Ltd. p. 287. ISBN 1-85149-139-2. Retrieved 19 November 2023 – via Internet Archive.


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