Original Artwork
William Crosbie RSA RGI (1915–1999) - Neptune & Mermaids Mixed media (watercolour & gouache)
Decorative Scottish Modernism with mythological marine subject • Signed lower left “Crosbie” • c.1965–1975
Key Details
Artist: William Crosbie RSA (1915–1999)
Title: Neptune & Mermaids
Medium: Mixed media (watercolour and gouache)
Support: Paper
Signature: Lower left, “Crosbie”
Dimensions: Image: 31 × 50 cm (12.2 × 19.7 in)
Condition: Excellent – colours strong and vibrant. Protected behind glass. Frame shows minor age wear consistent with age.
Provenance: Signed lower left. From a private UK collection.
Description
A vivid and stylised marine composition by William Crosbie RSA — richly decorative and highly collectable. This original mixed media work (watercolour and gouache) depicts an imaginative scene of Neptune, mermaids, stylised sea creatures and a sailing vessel beneath a radiant sun. It is a lively example of Crosbie’s mid-career illustrative style, combining playful mythological storytelling with bold colour and confident line. An appealing piece for collectors of Scottish Modernism as well as interior buyers seeking a striking wall work.
Keywords: William Crosbie, RSA, Scottish artist, mid-century modern, mythological art, Neptune, mermaid, gouache, watercolour, marine painting, Scottish Modernism, Glasgow School of Art.
About the Artist
William Crosbie RSA was a major figure in 20th-century Scottish painting. Born in China and educated at the Glasgow School of Art, he later studied in Paris under Fernand Léger, absorbing the influence of European Modernism. His practice spanned mural painting, theatre design and expressive figuration, with numerous public commissions and works now held in national collections, including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Royal Collection.
Mid-career works like this are especially sought after for their decorative boldness and stylised storytelling. The playful mythological theme, combined with Crosbie’s flair for colour and line, makes this an excellent example from his oeuvre.
Estimated Date
Circa 1965–1975
Provenance & Notes
Signed lower left. From a private UK collection.
