Alexander John Mavrogordato (British, 1869-1947). 1930s Crofter Cottage Watercolour

Alexander John Mavrogordato (British, 1869-1947). Middle name often reported as James but UK probate records show it as John. Born in Salford but lived in London from adult age.
Watercolour painting, signed front lower left and dated (looks like 1938). A crofter cottage by the coast. Small amount of foxing in sky area. Beautiful quality work. In a more recent frame and mount. Glazed.
Image within mount aperture 25 x 35 cm, glazed frame 46.5 x 39 cm. Some photos taken when it was out of the frame briefly. Notes regarding postage are below the artist biography.

Biography compiled by MastheadArt and our copyright.
Birth was registered in quarter 1 1869 in Salford. Prior to his birth his father John was living and working in Islington London as a Merchant's Clerk, marrying 2 years later in Salford Lancashire.  The 1871 census shows Alexander in Broughton, Salford aged 2 with his parents John and Catina/Catherine (born Vienna, Austria) plus his brothers John, Stephen and Lucas. His father, John was born in London according to census records, an East India Merchant. Alexander's grandfather, John's own father, was also named John and he is shown in the 1851 census in Crumpsall Lancashire as a Merchant born in Greece but a British Subject.  Alexanders parents were still in Broughton in the 1881 census but this time with only a 6yr old daughter Harriet. In an 1895 London post office directory Alexander was listed as an artist at an 8 Fitzroy Street studio. The 1899 London Westminster electoral register shows him with his brothers Lucas and Stephen at 141 Warwick Street. The Berks and Oxon Advertiser mentions Alexander in May and June 1902 as part of a floating Thames art gallery exhibition. Alexander contributed to the Summer Exhibition of Watercolours in Manchester in April 1903 and again in June 1904, and he is mentioned as a member of the Royal Amateur Art Society in March 1906 in the Morning Post as a judge at their exhibition. Alexander exhibited in 1907 at the Ridley Art Club at the Grafton Galleries in London. The 1911 census shows the brothers still at the same address, Alexander is shown as an Artist Painter but his entry has then been struck through, perhaps indicating he was not actually present at the address on census day. He was in Brighton on October 1913 to exhibit at the Brighton Art Autumn Show. He also exhibited at the 30th exhibition of the Ridley Art Club at the Grafton Galleries in London in April 1917 alongside Henry S Tuke and some other interesting names, with two pictures.

The Brighton Gazette reported on an exhibition of watercolours by Alexander in January 1910 at the Fine Art Society's rooms in New Bond Street, indicating in the report he was well known in Brighton and Hove (his mother and sister both moved there). The report states he had visited Greece and Italy to paint and mentions works of views at the Parthenon, modern Athens views, Bay of Salamis, Venice and Assisi. The same report describes his English painting subjects in the exhibition as including London, Hampshire and Yorkshire, plus some figure studies including "A Sussex Girl, painted in soft shadow with her back turned to a curtained window". The same exhibition was reported in the Westminster Gazette, featuring Alexander's wide range of geographically scattered subjects and making high praise of specific works by him. A report in The Truth in May 1911 discussed The Royal Academy exhibition and a work included by Mr Alex Mavrogordato "Greek Theatre", described as a "strong and telling piece of work". Alexander was mentioned in the West Sussex Gazette in March 1913 as Chairman of the Fine Arts Sub Committee in Brighton on the occasion of his speech at a Norwegian Artists Exhibition with the Norwegian Minister present. That same month he exhibited again at Derby Art Gallery. The following year, 1914, his work was included at an exhibition of the Brighton Arts Club with two Scottish scenes, including one of the Cuillin Hills, Skye .

In early 1919 Alexander married Alyne Vera Rowan Robinson in Atcham, Shropshire (daughter of a magistrate, she was born Alyne Vera Hulton-Harrop but she had married a William James Rowan Robinson, Army Captain, in 1908, he died as a Major in Ypres in 1915). Alexander exhibited at Derby Art Gallery in October 1925 with a watercolour of a Dartmoor lodging.  Alyne Mavrogordato died in 1932 in Kensington. A 1935 London directory shows Alexander at 184 Coleherne Court SW5 London. The 1939 household register shows Alexander at Gilridge House, Sevenoaks Road in Kent, Artist (and reserve ARP warden), born Jan 11th 1869 with his brother John. Alexander John Mavrogordato died in 1947 in Kent, his probate record shows him of Gilbridge/Gildridge, Edenbridge, Kent, died 16th Feb 1947, leaving £19,106, probate granted to his brother John Mavrogordato and two others. John died two years later at the same address and his effects included a library of over 1000 volumes on numismatics and ancient Greek relics etc. The property in the sale particulars was called Gilridge and may have been rather grand, with four reception rooms and six bedrooms.

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