Offered for sale is this small watercolor by the listed Australian artist, Walter A Barratt, active `895-`935, which is of an Egyptian or Arabian scene.

This was purchased at auction, and I have no further provenance. Searching for Barratt I find an entry on ArtRecord.com ( a subscription database)

Walter BARRATT: Little is known of this watercolour landscape painter, other than that he was active in Launceston in Tasmania and New South Wales in the 1890s.

It lists 6 of his watercolors for $1,010.00, and average of $168.00 each. Australian Art Sales Digest (another subscription database) lists about 28 of his works, mostly oils (which fetch higher money), and has a number of pictures of his watercolors. It creates a bibliographical link to Jean Campbell’s Australian Watercolour Painters 1780-1890, but she has only a brief entry in the list of artists, recognizing him as a painter of ships (Wrong, Jean, he mainly did landscapes). The International database, Artprice.com, also lists him, and to them I owe the fact that he was still paintings in 1935.

The Dictionary of Australian Artist Online (www.daao.org.au) lists him as

Walter Barratt [stub] : landscape painter in watercolour, was active at Launceston in the 1890s, then exhibited with the NSW Society of Artists in 1901.

It has a little more information

Exhibition: Title: New South Wales Society of Artists

Date: 1901

Place: Sydney, NSW

Associated organisation: NSW Society of Artists

He was moderately prolific with his paintings, given the number of auction entries, and the number found with a Google search (eg Charles Leski Auctions, listing a group of three small watercolors with an estimate of $300.00, .and Bonhams & Goodman auction in October 2007 listing another small watercolor landscape with an estimate of $200-400.00). In short, he’s a minor listed Australian artist.

I’ve no idea of the scene in this painting - ?? Egyptian. In that period a lot of artists returned to the UK, via Suez, so it may be the port Aden, where the ships often stopped, and the passengers strolled around.  It has a feature of an old fort, several camels and camel-drivers, with a city and minaret in the background, alongside a waterway. The colors, after all these years, are still bright and fresh. I had trouble with photographing the signature, but it is signed W. Barratt. We have taken this out of the original, rather cheap and nasty frame, I have cleaned and de-foxed this, and I’ve reframed it in this recycled mock gold antique frame, with a linen slip, with an inner white and outer cream matte. The painting is signed W. Barratt, and below 1931 (hidden by the matte – trust me), at the bottom left. The image size is 17.5 by 27.5 cms., the frame size 35 by 45 cms., and it is ready to hang. This is quite light, and I can post this around Australia, securely packed, with Australia Post for $20.00. PayPal is my preferred payment option.

Alternatively, for Queensland buyers this painting can be picked up (local pick-up) in my rooms in Logan Central, just off the M1.Be aware that we take considerable time and trouble making sure paintings are very securely packed, and well protected for shipment. International buyers (PayPal only please) please contact me by E-Bay email for a quote on shipping.

As at the 25th of March I have the following paintings available for purchase in my E-Bay Store, Gallerie_E

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• G W Bot (1954-) 2009 Sulman Prize finalist early screenprint
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• Don Gangell, Flinders Ranges artist, 1979 large oil of the Glengell Golf Course
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• Max Price Northern Rivers artist well rendered oil
• Bette Hays, pair of medium size oils, mother & children
• Lachlan Fraser, forest scene, watercolour
• Barbara Peake (1925-) w/colour, Torquay, well framed
• G. Stuart Warmington, Pen and Watercolour wash
• Susan Leister Autralian artist w/color rose 1990's
• Howard B Ireland impressionist oil on paper double matt
• Keith Willes (1919- ) bush series oil on board
• Susan Leister 3 w/colours of roses matched display set
• Ingrida Erns (1919- small oil on board, european town
• Helen McKie listed Vic artist from mid 70'scollectible
• Ken Lochhead, well known Scottish watercolourist , scene at Largo
• Frances Briggs minor English artist early 20's oil, horses head
• Alec Dillon Ballet dancer "Waiting her Turn" reframed
• John Millington 1942- framed screenprint artists proof
• R Goode Qld. Coastal landscape oil on board under glass
• Colin Peck 1934- Ltd. Ed. dye sublimation print framed
• May Allen w/color Art Nouveau reframed lady with hat
• Thel Cardwell Vic. pair of pastels Feeding the Chickens
• Heather Bell award winning Gold Coast realist artist