The Clare Family

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Oliver Clare "Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest"



 

The Clare family were Victorian artists who specialized in, and became famous for, their highly finished and precisely detailed fruit and flower paintings. The family consisted of George (1835 - 1900) and his three sons David (born 1870), Oliver (1853 - 1927) and Vincent (1855 - 1930) - all, except David, were artists.

George lived and died in Barnet, Hertfordshire - although it is known that he spent a number of years in Birmingham - evidenced by the fact that his address is given as 173, Bristol Street, Birmingham for the paintings he exhibited during the 1860’s. As to George's artistic training, one is not sure, however his delicate stippling technique and choice of subject matter – still-lives painted against a mossy bank - are derived from the oil and watercolorist William Henry Hunt (1790-1864).


George’s works are very precise and detailed, displaying an influence from the Pre-Raphaelite artists who, among other things, were deeply concerned with capturing their subjects in microscopic detail. Among his contemporaries were Thomas Worsey (1829-1875), John Sherrin (1819-1896) and William Hull (1820-1880) – all specializing in finely detailed still-life paintings.

George exhibited his first works in 1864 - exhibiting at the Royal Academy #356 "Plums, etc."; the British Institution - #395 "Camellia, etc." and at the Royal Society of British Artists - #410 "Grapes, plums, etc." and #741 "Camellias &c.". He would continue to exhibit his works at these major halls until 1874.

Oliver lived in Birmingham a local health firm ‘Health Food Stores’ commissioned him to paint still-lives so they could be reproduced on postcard and posters.

Grant M. Waters, in his book Dictionary of British Artists working 1900 - 1950, states that: "He [Oliver] was particularly gifted with animals. He taught his dog to stoke the fire and collect fruit from the greengrocer. On the night he died [(in 1927)], he sang 'Abide with me'. His dog died the same night."

Oliver exhibited many paintings during his lifetime and is most associated with the West Midlands and the North - showing 18 works at the Royal Society of Artists, Birmingham; 3 at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool and 6 at the Manchester City Art Gallery. During the late 1870's and early 1880's he lived in London and exhibited works at the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of British Artists, Suffolk Street.

The youngest artist of the family was Vincent Clare. He was born in 1855 and spent most of his life in London at Fern Cottage, Nursery Road, Southgate (one will often find that Vincent's paintings are signed and inscribed, with his address, on the reverse).

Like his father and brother he became quite popular with his still life and flower paintings. His technique was similar to his father's, however his brush strokes were slightly freer and he would, at times, work with more pastel colors.

It appears that although Vincent lived in London, he never exhibited there. The only recorded exhibitions were in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool where he displayed three works. It is believed that he did exhibit with his brother Oliver in the Midlands, but there are no records to substantiate this.

 

 

Reference:

Johnson, J., The Royal Society of British Artists: 1824 - 1893, Antique Collectors Club, 1975, pgs. 87-88.

Johnson, J. & Greutzner, A., The Dictionary of British Artists: 1880-1940

Antique Collectors Club, 1976, pg. 107

Maas, Jeremy, Victorian Painters, Barrie & Rockleff, The Cresset Press

London, 1969, pg. 173

Mitchell, Peter, Great Flower Painters: Four Centuries of Floral Art, George Rainbird, Ltd., London, 1973, pg. 89-90 (ill).

Pavière, Sydney H., A Dictionary of Flower, Fruit, and Still Life Painters, F. Lewis, Ltd., England, 1964, pg. 29 (ill.)

Waters, Grant M., Dictionary of British Artists Working 1900 - 1950, Eastbourne Fine Art Publishers, England, 1975, pgs. 65-66.

Wood, Christopher, The Dictionary of Victorian Painters, Antique Collectors Club, England, 1995, Vol. 1, pg. 100; Vol. 2, pg. 158 Illustration.

 
This essay is copyrighted by Rehs Galleries, Inc. and may not be reproduced or transmitted without written permission from Rehs Galleries, Inc.
 



Bird\'s Nest and Flowers on a Mossy Bank - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Bird's Nest and Flowers on a Mossy Bank
12 x 18 inches
Signed

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Bird\'s Nest and Flowers on a Mossy Bank - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Bird's Nest and Flowers on a Mossy Bank
12 x 9 inches
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Grapes, Plums and Apples Against a Mossy Bank - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Grapes, Plums and Apples Against a Mossy Bank
12 x 16 inches
Signed; also signed and dated 1897 on the reverse

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Still Life of Flowers & Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Flowers & Bird's Nest
9 x 7 inches
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Still Life of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest
10 x 12 inches
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Still Life of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest
12 x 18 inches
Signed; also signed and dated 1898 on the reverse

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Still Life of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest
12 x 10 inches
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Still Life of Flowers on a Mossy Bank - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Flowers on a Mossy Bank
12 x 9 inches
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Still Life of Fruits and a Basket of Raspberries - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Fruits and a Basket of Raspberries
12 x 10 inches
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Still Life with Roses - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life with Roses
8 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches
Signed and dated '95

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Still Life of Flowers with Bird\'s Nest - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Flowers with Bird's Nest
18 x 22 inches
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Still Life of Fruit - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Fruit
24 x 20 inches
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Apples, Plums, Raspberries and Grapes - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Apples, Plums, Raspberries and Grapes
24 x 20 inches
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Still Life of Flowers, Bird\'s Nest and Basket - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Flowers, Bird's Nest and Basket
24 x 20 inches
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Yellow Apples, Plums and Raspberries - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Yellow Apples, Plums and Raspberries
9 x 12 inches
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Apple Blossom, Primroses and Bird\'s Nest - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Apple Blossom, Primroses and Bird's Nest
10 x 12 inches
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Still Life of Yellow Apples, Plums and Raspberries - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Yellow Apples, Plums and Raspberries
17 3/4 x 23 1/2 inches
Signed and dated 1869

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Flowers and Bird\'s Nest on a Mossy Bank - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Flowers and Bird's Nest on a Mossy Bank
12 x 10 inches
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Still Life of Fruit - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Fruit
12 x 10 inches
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Still Life of Blossoms and Bird\'s Nest - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Blossoms and Bird's Nest
9 x 12 inches
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Still Life of Flowers and a Basket - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Flowers and a Basket
14 x 21 inches
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Still Life of Fruit and a Basket - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Fruit and a Basket
14 x 20 inches
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Still Life of Holly and Primroses - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Holly and Primroses
10 x 14 inches
Signed and dated 1865

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Basket of Primula Flowers & a Bird\'s Nest - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Basket of Primula Flowers & a Bird's Nest
12 x 18 inches
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May Blossom and a Bird\'s Nest - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
May Blossom and a Bird's Nest
12 x 18 inches
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Still life of Fruit - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still life of Fruit
12 x 18 inches
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Bird\'s Nest and Two Flower Baskets - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Bird's Nest and Two Flower Baskets
18 x 24 inches
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Still Life with a Bird\'s Nest - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life with a Bird's Nest
18 x 24 inches
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Still Life of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest
12 x 10 inches
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Camellias and Primulas - George Clare
George Clare
(1830 - 1900)
Camellias and Primulas
11 x 13 1/2 inches
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Still Life of Fruit - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Fruit
16 x 12 inches
Signed and dated 89

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Still Life of Bird\'s Nest and Primroses - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Bird's Nest and Primroses
16 x 12 inches
Signed and dated 89

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Still Life of Fruit - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Fruit
12 x 16 inches
Signed and dated 89

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Potted African Violets and Primulas - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Potted African Violets and Primulas
18 x 14 inches
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Summer Delights - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Summer Delights
18 x 14 inches
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Potted Flowers - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Potted Flowers
12 x 10 inches
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Still Life with Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life with Bird's Nest
9 x 11 inches
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Still Life of Fruit - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Fruit
9 x 11 inches
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Still Life with Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life with Flowers and Bird's Nest
8 x 10 inches
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Grapes, Plum and Raspberries - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Grapes, Plum and Raspberries
12 x 10 inches
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Flowers on a Mossy Bank - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Flowers on a Mossy Bank
9 x 7 inches
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Bird\'s Nest with Flowers - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Bird's Nest with Flowers
5 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches
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Still Life of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest
8 x 10 inches
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Flowers and Bird\'s Nest by a Mossy Bank - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Flowers and Bird's Nest by a Mossy Bank
8 x 10 inches
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Still Life of Pansies and Flowers - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Pansies and Flowers
6 x 9 inches
Signed and dated '98

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Still Life of Primroses and Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Primroses and Bird's Nest
8 x 10 inches
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Apple Blossom and a Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Apple Blossom and a Bird's Nest
8 x 10 inches
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Primroses, Apple Blossoms and Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Primroses, Apple Blossoms and Bird's Nest
8 x 10 inches
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Flowers, a Berry and a Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Flowers, a Berry and a Bird's Nest
10 x 8 inches
Signed and dated '90

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Still Life of Flowers - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Flowers
9 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches
Signed and dated '95

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Still Life of Flowers - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Flowers
9 x 7 inches
Signed and dated '96

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Still Life of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest
10 x 8 inches
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Pansies and Lilacs - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Pansies and Lilacs
10 x 8 inches
Signed and dated '96

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Still Life of Flowers - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Flowers
9 x 12 inches
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Lilacs and Apple Blossom - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Lilacs and Apple Blossom
6 x 9 inches
Signed and dated '92

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Still Life of Flowers - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Flowers
6 x 9 inches
Signed and dated '90

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Flowers and a Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Flowers and a Bird's Nest
7 x 9 inches
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Primulas and Pansies - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Primulas and Pansies
9 x 12 inches
Signed and dated '93

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Still Life of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - Oliver Clare
Oliver Clare
(1853 - 1927)
Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest
9 x 12 inches
Signed and dated '93

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Still Life of Fruit Near a Brick Wall - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Fruit Near a Brick Wall
12 x 18 inches
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Strawberry Basket with Whitecurrant - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Strawberry Basket with Whitecurrant
6 x 9 inches
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Gooseberries and Currant in a Basket - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Gooseberries and Currant in a Basket
6 x 9 inches
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Flowers in a Basket & a Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Flowers in a Basket & a Bird's Nest
20 x 24 inches
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Still Life of Fruit and Basket - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Fruit and Basket
14 x 17 inches
Signed and dated 1892; inscribed on the reverse

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Flowes and Bird\'s Nest on a Mossy Bank - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Flowes and Bird's Nest on a Mossy Bank
7 x 9 inches
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Still Life with Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life with Bird's Nest
8 x 10 inches
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Still Life of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest
10 x 14 inches
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Still Life of Flowers in a Clay Pot - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Flowers in a Clay Pot
10 x 14 inches
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Still Life of Fruit - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Fruit
8 x 12 inches
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Still Life of Fruit - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Fruit
6 x 9 inches
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Still Life of Flowers - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Flowers
6 x 9 inches
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Still Life with Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life with Bird's Nest
12 x 10 inches
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Still Life of Flowers with Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Flowers with Bird's Nest
7 x 14 inches
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Still Life of Fruit - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Fruit
7 x 14 inches
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Still Life of Fruit in a Basket - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Fruit in a Basket
20 x 30 inches
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Basket of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Basket of Flowers and Bird's Nest
9 x 12 inches
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Still Life of Fruit - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Fruit
9 x 12 inches
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Still Life with Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life with Bird's Nest
9 x 7 inches
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Still Life with Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life with Bird's Nest
12 x 17 inches
Signed; also signed, inscribed and dated '98 on the reverse

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Still Life of Fruit in a Basket - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Fruit in a Basket
9 x 12 inches
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Still Life of Flowers with Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Flowers with Bird's Nest
9 x 12 inches
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Still Life of Flowers and Bird\'s Nest - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Flowers and Bird's Nest
12 x 9 inches
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Fruit in a Basket - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Fruit in a Basket
12 x 9 inches
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Grapes in a Basket - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Grapes in a Basket
20 x 16 inches
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Still Life of Flowers in a Basket - Vincent Clare
Vincent Clare
(1855 - 1930)
Still Life of Flowers in a Basket
12 x 10 inches
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