Stuart Henry Bell paintings to be auctioned

Jun 3 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

THE story of a theatre scene painter who became one of Queen Victoria’s favourite marine artists has emerged from an auction sale today.

BBC TV’s Flog It cameras will be at Boldon Auction Galleries in South Tyneside for the sale, which will include the 1858 painting Port of Sunderland, Tide Time During a Gale by Stuart Henry Bell which is rated at £4,000-£6,000.

Bell was born in Newcastle in 1823 and began work as a theatre scene painter. He worked at theatres around the country, including the Theatre Royals at both Newcastle and Sunderland.

He later turned Sunderland’s Drury Lane Theatre into a music hall and was associated with theatres in the town for many years, where he was known for his sensational scene effects.

He also painted North East coast scenes, including Tynemouth and off the Wear.

One of his studies was of the slave ship Orange Grove leaving Sunderland Harbour.

Bell moved into theatre management but his speculations ended in bankruptcy and he died in Gateshead in 1896. He left a legacy of marine artworks, with Sunderland Museum and Art Gallery owning eight of his paintings.