Paintings

A magnificent view of Hong Kong Harbour with junks in the foreground.

COMMISSIONED BY AUSTIN REED OF LONDON FOR THEIR FLAGSHIP REGENT STREET STORE IN 1930.

Fred Taylor, a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy, was commissioned to produce poster art by railway companies and the great shipping lines in the golden age of travel, from 1908 to 1940s. In 1930 British fashion retailer Austin Reed commissioned Taylor to paint a series of scenes, including this view of Hong Kong, to furnish the Red Lacquer Room of their Tropical department in their Regent Street store. "One of the most romantic harbours in our Eastern possessions. Our artist has taken a view looking towards the harbour and has introduced on the left a superb example of a Chinese trading junk, balanced on the right by a group of lesser craft. Unobtrusive, but significant, on the extreme left of the picture is a watchful British cruiser" (The Red Lacquer Room, Austin Reed Group, London, p.6).

Fred Taylor (1875-1963) was a landscape & architectural painter in watercolours, oils and a poster designer. Born in London  on 22nd March 1875. Educated at St John the Evangelist, Islington. He studied art at Paris at the Academie Julian, at Goldsmiths College School (awarded gold medal for posters) and in Italy. Worked at the Waring and Gillow studio. In 1930 he designed four ceiling paintings for the Underwriting Room at Lloyds, London. He worked on naval camouflage during the 2nd World War. He was renowned for his topographical accuracy and his prolific output, especially for the railways. He wrote the book 'Water Colour Painting' with Frank H Mason. Represented in several public collections and exhibited at the RA. Lived in London for many years. Produced posters for MR, GWR, LMS, LNER, BR, LT, EMB & several shipping companies. 

PROVENANCE

Austin Reed Group, London.

London Transport Museum

CONDITION

Original canvas, undulating with faint vertical stretcher bar marks. There is a small area of restoration in the sky right of the large ship on the left hand side; also two repaired tears in the right half of the picture, one in the hills the other to the upper edge of the sail in the foreground, both slightly discoloured and corresponding patches on the reverse. Held in a gilt plaster frame with a canvas inset.