Long Shot - Artist Branwyn Sichel

[jourdain2]

He was around Bradford towards the mid and end of the 1800's. My Gt-granddad was at Keighley Art College c. same time (I have some of his drawings, for which he won prizes - also have the prizes; books on Art). Possibly for that reason the family acquired the Sichel pastel 'A Beltane Fire' which depicts 3 boys, 2 nude, building and lighting a fire on a beach. is 26" x 15", near enough and, I believe in the original frame - with provenance.

Anyway, I grew up with it, it hung in my bedroom as a little girl for umpteen years and I love it dearly and will never sell it. Just before I went to live in France, Dad died (early 1990's) and I had the painting valued at c.£2,000. I found all sorts about it on the internet, named best artwork in a show in a gallery in Belgravia etc. Now I'm back in UK I need an idea of value for insurance.

Given the subject-matter, the value may have dropped (it doesn't matter to me) but I've been searching and searching on line and can't find a single reference to the artist and pastel. I know I found info. just over 10 years ago.

Any ideas anyone? I have a tightish time limit a it's a big thing to lug around.

[Slide-Rule]

Not sure if this helps:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Leopold_Sichel

[jourdain2]

Thanks, will give it a go.

[jourdain2]

Thanks, there must be a link. Maybe a ouija-board?

[Slide-Rule]

Does the style of your picture look like any of these?

http://www.arcadja.com/auctions/en/sichel_ernest_leopold/artist/37528/

[jourdain2]

Yes, slide-rule. The male nude skin-tones are very similar as is the delineation of the upper arm. The seated female has a similar smokey background. It's a puzzle, there has to be a connection. I would really love to know. My gt-grandad's drawings include several male nudes, one reclining in a similar way . Frustrating in the extreme. I think I probably need to up the insurance anyway - but I would just like to Know.

Fry-up - a good idea but I am not up to that technologically and by the time I find someone who can come and show me how to do it I will be out of time. I only have 6 days.

[shoota]

Are you positive of the first name?

[jourdain2]

Yes, as near as I can be. As I wrote earlier I researched the piece in the early
2000's and found a reference in a review of an exhibition in London (may have been Berkley Square) but I assumed I'd be able to find it again in need - and I can't. There are old typewritten bits on the back with the name.

[shoota]

I can't find a Branwyn Sichel in any of the published census records, plenty of Sichel's, but none with that first name or similar.

[goodgoalie]

Jourdain, think Ernest is the best bet. Have a look here:
http://www.notjusthockney.info/sichel-ernest/

[jourdain2]

These artworks do look similar - and I agree that Branwyn is an odd name for a German Jew from Bradford or a descendant of such a family -unless it was an affectation. The subject of 'A Beltane Fire' suggests an interest in Celtic mythology - yet I come back to an art valuer in Bradford in the mid 1990's, who happily accepted 'Branwyn' and gave me a confident valuation - also the half-remembered internet find stated Branwyn Sichel' by name.

There is no surprise to the name Sichel as Bradford had an influx of Germans (hence the area of 'Little Germany' and some very good sausage makers when I was a kid). I am becoming more and more intrigued. It has just always been there and referred to casually to 'Branwyn' (Dad was born in 1903). I think I must just up the insurance in case and go on a quest!
All intrepid searchers are welcome along.!

[shoota]

There was an artist called Frank Brangwyn...

[Captain2]

Of no use to your quest at all Jourdain, but if you Google the name Branwyn it shows up totally as being a female name; seems an odd name for a German jew to adopt in Yorkshire in the 1800s.

[jourdain2]

I'll have a look at him, too, Shoota. At least it is well established that there was a family of artists called Sichel in that area. I can't understand why I'm getting no results though, when I definitely did in the mid 2000's.

[jourdain2]

I suppose it could be Branwen (I've used how it is spelled on the typed bits on the back) or maybe I'm guilty of unconcious sexism. Is that more masculine? I'm reluctant to extract a delicate pastel from its frame and explore to see if the signature is different.

I feel that the artist is male, but could be wrong. (Actually, I suspect that he was a gay male and I have suspicions about my gt-grandad - on no basis whatsoever, apart from their artwork!)