Antique Watercolour Painting by Fritz Althaus - believed to be Ide Village in Devon late 19th century circa 1895 mounted framed & glazed 49cm x 38cm

A very attractive and decorative gilt framed watercolour painting by the known and accomplished artist Fritz Althaus (1863 -1962). Born in Lewisham in Kent to a German Music professor father. He lived in Maida Vale London until 1893 then moved to Exeter. In 1914 he changed his name to Frederick Bernard Kerr. The painting is of a rustic rural landscape scene, reputed to be the village of Ide, near Exeter in Devon where the artist lived for a while. The painting is not titled and has been reframed at some time in the distant past so the location cannot be verified. The watercolour has been imaged out of it's frame, the rear of the board is shown, there do not appear to be an inscription. This very decorative watercolour dates to the late 19th century circa 1895, when the artist was living in Devon and Cornwall and exhibiting frequently at the Newlyn Art Gallery. 

This desirable and decorative watercolour painting on paper shows a hamlet of thatched cottages nestling below a low hill behind . There is a flock of swans and or geese on the banks of a meandering river in the foreground. The river flows to the left of the painting under an arched stone bridge. There are trees lining a track to the houses, which have trees on the hill in the background.

It is a well executed watercolour. The painting is mounted on a gilded bevelled card mount in twentieth century glazed frame . All are in very good, condition - please see the images. It is a pretty and decorative painting ready to be hung. The back will be re-taped prior to despatch.

The frame measures 19 1/4 inches ( 49 cm) by 15 1/4 inches ( 38.8 cm) and the visible painting is 11 13/16 inches (30 cm)  by 7 7/8 inches ( 20 cm). The painting in its frame weighs 1.72 kg unpacked.