Watercolour, pen and ink, signed and inscribed, 12"x9"

The original watercolour for the lithograph of Old Newcastle

Landscape and historical painter in oil and watercolour. Bertram was born in Newcastle the son of a ships chandler and showed from an early age a talent for art. After a general education his parents decided he should enter the coal trade and it was only later when he joined a furniture store as a desinger that he was able to indulge his passion for art.

He attended evening classes in art at the Durham College of Art in Newcastle and was so successful that he became an assistant and eventually became master of design at the then Armstrong College (later to become Kings College) and is now Newcastle University.

His outstanding abilities as a draftsman made him in demad by publishers from his early 20's, his drawing were used for many publications including Northumberland County History, A Fishers Garland, Northumbrian Decameron, and numerous books by local authors.

He also produced his own books including a set of 15 lithographs titled Old Newcastle published in 1908 by Mawson Swan and Morgan.

He was a prolific painter of local scenes usually with a historic theme. He exhibited at the Bewick Club, Artists of Northern Counties at the Laing Gallery and sent work to the RA.

In 1930 he was one of a number of artists asked to paint a lunette ofor the Laing Gallery his subject being the great flood of 1771.

He lived most of his life in Corbridge as an artist and academic and took a great interest in the preservation of old buildings.

He moved to Whitby after his retirment where he died in 1889.

Bertram was one of the Northumbrias oustanding draughtsman, painters and art teachers of the early 20th century. Represented at the Pen and Pallete club, Laing Gallery, and various scholastic and public buildings in Northumbria.

Castle Chair, Newcastle

Robert John Scott Bertram 1871-1953

New

£1,150.00