Reuben Bussey
Nottingham artist 1818 - 1893

Self portrait

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Watercolour. Probably 1840s.

Private collection.

Bussey appears to be in his twenties. 250 × 185 mm.

William Bussey

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Oil on canvas. Probably 1840s.

Private collection.

Prince Rupert at the Battle of Edgehill 1642

Sold at Christies 3 April 1964 by Laurence Brook. 20 × 27 inches.

From the Phrenological Journal 1844 'Case of Saville, a murderer': '...a sketch of Saville's head, taken by a friend of Mr Beggs, Mr Reuben Bussey, a young artist of Nottingham, who has paid some attention to Phrenology.'

Phrenology was popular at the time. The attempt to link criminal behaviour to features of the head is discredited today.

Street scene in Nottingham

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Watercolour, probably 1860s.

Private collection.

310 × 205 mm.

The scene is probably St Peter's Church Walk.

The Goodwin Family Warser Gate

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1861. Watercolour on paper.

Private collection.

Royal Oak Day: Success to the King

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Oil on canvas. 1862.

Private collection.

Portrait of a chestnut horse outside a stable with two terriers.

Artnet website says this was auctioned, probably in 2012, 18 × 22 inches.

It may be the same picture as 'Study of a Horse' included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mr Lionel Gyngell. No 37 in catalogue.

Listed in card index at Nottingham Local Studies Library. 19.5 × 32.5 inches.

This is probably the same as these auction details from the Artinfo website: (1) Distant view of Hardwick Hall, Paintings Sotheby's May 12, 1965 100 GBP; (2) Hardwick Hall, Derby; Paintings (1865) Young Fine Arts Auctions Nov 30, 1985 700 USD.

This may be the same as the oil painting titled 'Hardwick Hall' included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mr Reuben Harris. No 26 in catalogue.

Twenty Dogs
or
A Chorus of Dogs

Oil on canvas. 1865.

Private collection.

Listed online at Bridgeman Art Library.

The Artnet website gives other details: (1) sold Phillips London, Tuesday, June 21, 1994 with the title: "A Chorus of Dogs"; (2) sold Phillips London, Tuesday, October 11, 1994 with the title: "A Chorus of Dogs" 1600 GBP; (3) sold Christie's South Kensington: Thursday, April 4, 1996 with the title "Twenty Dogs" 1600 GBP.

14.2 inches in diameter, signed and dated 1865.

The Major Oak
(this is an assumed title as no title appears on the picture)

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Oil on canvas. 1866.

Private collection.

The picture appears to show the Major Oak. For more information on this famous tree in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire see the Nottinghamshire County Council website and Find the Major Oak.

Signed R. Bussey and dated 1866 in the bottom left hand corner. Purchased in 2008 from the Red House Antiques Centre in York, England. 380 mm by 280 mm.

Oil. 1867.

Private collection

Five scenes on one canvas of Holy Trinity Church, Bulcote, Nottinghamshire

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Oil. 1867.

Bulcote Church.

Internet auction 2005. 20 × 34 inches.

The Black Knights

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Oil. 1868.

Private collection.

Revolution: The Earl of Devonshire addressing the people from the steps of the old Malt Cross, Nottingham, Nov 23rd 1688

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Oil. 1869.

Private collection.

Sold at Christies April 1916 by J Goodwin Esq. 51.5 × 77 inches. Probably the same oil painting titled included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mr John T Goodwin. No 42 in catalogue.

An article in the Nottinghamshire Guardian for 22 October 1869 tells us that the picture was exhibited that year at the Nottingham School of Art. The article praises the picture and explains its importance to the history of Nottingham. The picture is also mentioned briefly in the same newspaper on 1 October 1869.

24 × 18 inches.

Auction detail from Artinfo website: Figures in 16th century costume on the battlements of a castle, Paintings (1870) Dukes Auctioneers Oct 31, 2002 400 GBP.

Drawing. 1870.

Castle Museum, Nottingham.

Oil painting. 1870.

Collection: Nottingham City Museums and Galleries

The picture was painted in 1870 but recreates a scene imagined from 1842.

Included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mr John T Goodwin. No 33 in catalogue.

Dimensions given as 61 × 50.8 cm.

Reproductions of this picture available from the Media Storehouse.

Reproduced on the BBC Your Paintings website.

Auction detail from Artinfo website: Scene from Henry IV, Paintings (1873) Auktionshaus Weidler Sep 14, 2002 520 EUR.

Reuben painted another picture with almost the same title. This is mentioned in an article in the Worcester Journal for 6 June 1868. It lists prizes for the 'Art Union of Great Britain'.. The third prize is "'Scene from King Henry IV' value 100 guineas, by Reuben Bussey ...and well bears out the reputation this rising artist has acquired ..."

(1) Charles I raising his Standard at Nottingham Castle, August 22nd, 1642

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(2) Charles I raising his Standard at Nottingham Castle

(1) Oil. 1874.

(2) Oil on canvas.
Date unknown.
University of Nottingham collection.

There are two pictures with almost the same title.

(1) 20.25 × 32 inches. ArtInfo website says sold Brightwells Apr 27, 2005 480 GBP.

(2) 120 × 100 cm. University of Nottingham collection. No date given. Reproduced as a larger image on the BBC Your Paintings website.

One of these is probably the same oil painting included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mr Parker Woodward. No 49 in catalogue.

The Nottingham Evening Post for 20 May 1893 describes the local artists' exhibition that year. One of Bussey's pictures was included posthumously. It is the same subject: "...a powerful oil-painting (unfinished) by the late Mr Reuben Bussey, depicting the raising of the standard by Charles the First at Nottingham in front of the Norman Castle..." Does this refer to one of these pictures, or to yet another on the same subject?

The Armourer

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Oil on canvas. About 1874.

Private collection.

37.5 cm × 31.5cm. Signed 'R Bussey' in the lower RH corner. The picture does not carry a name or a date. It is known as 'The Armourer' to the present owners.

The painting was either bought by or given to the Rev Fred Binns who was minister of the St James Street Congregational Church in Nottingham between 1874 and 1878. He migrated to Australia in 1890 where he became a senior member of the Congregational Church. One of his sons, Kenneth Binns CBE became Australia's first National Librarian. The picture is still in Australia.

Bussey did at least one other picture on the same subject. 'Richard Bullyvant' exhibited in 1882 was said to show the town armourer in the time of James I. Then at Bussey's posthumous exhibition in 1894 the catalogue lists (with water colours and drawings): 'No. 65 - Bullivant the Town Armourer: the first man who smoked tobacco in Nottingham. Lent by Councillor J H Brown'.

Exmouth, South Devon

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Oil on canvas. 1874.

Private collection.

Included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mr John T Goodwin. No 39 in catalogue.

Described in an article in the Nottingham Journal on 5 July 1875: '...in old Hounds Gate when the king's soldiers are repelling a sortie from the castle, then held by Colonel Hutchinson. The first Lord Byron is seen on horseback giving instructions to his troops...'.

Sold at Christies 12 March 1965. 19.25 × 30.5 inches.

This picture is described in some detail in an article in the Nottingham Journal on 5 July 1875. The article also describes other pictures seen in Bussey's studio: (1) a civil war battle in Hounds Gate, Nottingham, (2) a landscape set at Birklands, (3) a sketch of Lady Macbeth, (4) sketches for a planned series of paintings on the history of Nottingham Castle.

Inscribed, signed and dated 1877 verso.
60 × 47 cms.
Details from catalogue, Anthemion Auctions 21 July 2010.

Watercolour drawing. 1878.

Castle Museum, Nottingham.

Pen and ink drawing. 1878.

Castle Museum, Nottingham.

Watercolour drawing. 1878.

Castle Museum, Nottingham.

Pen and ink drawing. 1878.

Castle Museum, Nottingham.

Watercolour drawing. 1878.

Castle Museum, Nottingham.

Caister, Norfolk

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Watercolour. 1879.

Private collection.

Approx 750 × 550 mm

May be similar to an oil painting titled 'The Coast, near Caister, Norfolk' included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mrs Reuben Bussey. No 12 in catalogue.

Oil on canvas. 1879.

Private collection.

One of the monochrome illustrations in Heather Williams's 1981 thesis. 20 × 32 inches. Auctioned at Neales, Nottingham on 27 April 2007. Description says 'Signed, dated 1879 and inscribed with title verso 49 cm × 80 cm'. Sold for 400 GBP.

The picture was one of three exhibited in 1879 in an exhibition for local artists at the Castle Museum. An article in the Nottinghamshire Guardian for 9 May 1879 complains about its use of colour which was not to the reviewer's taste.

Oil on canvas. 1879.

Private collection.

The drawings were mentioned as a future project in an article in the Nottingham Journal on 5 July 1875.

3 frames each with 4 drawings were included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mr Albert Heymann. Nos 84-86 in catalogue.

See that catalogue for much detail.

27in. by 35in. Auctioned in 1994 by Heathcote Ball, UK.

The Master's Stick

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Sketch. About 1880.

From a bound volume 'Sketches' in private collection.

This is also the title of a watercolour drawing dated 1880 listed in Nottingham Local Artists Exhibition catalogue for 1880.

44cm × 60cm
Auction catalogue, estimate: 300-500 GBP. Devon and Cornwall Auctions

The picture was exhibited in 1882 in an 'Autumn Exhibition of Modern Pictures' at Nottingham. It is described in the Nottinghamshire Guardian for 15 September 1882. The picture shows the town armourer in the time of James I.

Bussey's obituary in the same paper on 4 March 1893 mentions a watercolour with a similar title, and possibly the same picture.

Oil on canvas. 1882.

Private collection.

307.5 × 217.5 mm

According to Wikipedia "A dog whipper was a church official charged with removing unruly dogs from a church or church grounds during services". A sluggard wakener might have been somebody who woke those who fell asleep during services.

This is how the owner describes the painting: "a rather grim Dickensian figure, with whip and cane... is seated on a stool... with a flagstone floor and a large pillar, with some interesting woodwork in the background. A leather-bound book, probably the bible, sits alongside him .... The painters signature is neatly framed by one of the flagstones. It is not a large picture."

Included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mr John T Goodwin. No 15 in catalogue.

Morning on the Coast near Hastings

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Oil on canvas. 1882.

Private collection.

Oil on canvas. 1882.

Private collection.

13 inches × 9 inches.

Bussey probably painted the mill at Staunton-in-the-Vale, Nottinghamshire. An article on the Nottinghamshire History website tells us at the time of the Domesday Book, in Staunton 'there was a priest and a church and a mill. The mill, which stood near the junction of the two streams, Devon and Winterbeck, has passed entirely away, but the church still survives.'

Landing Fish on the Beach, Great Yarmouth

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Scotch Fishermen Reading the Bible, Trinity Chapel, Great Yarmouth, Oct 8 1882

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Beach men, Great Yarmouth, 1882

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Beach men, Great Yarmouth

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South East Tower, Great Yarmouth

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Watercolour. 1882.

Private collection.

Near Caister, Norfolk

Oil on earthenware plate. Dated 31 May 1883.

Private collection.

Sepia drawing. 1884.

Nottingham Local Studies Library.

Watercolour. 1884.

In private collection.

Auctioned at Nottingham in 2012.

Signed and dated in bottom left.

Each portrait 10.5in × 8in. Auctioned by David Duggleby, Scarborough, UK in 2001. Inscribed signed and dated 1884.. May have been sold again in 2011.

Near Somerleyton

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Sketch. Probably 1880s.

From a bound volume 'Sketches' in private collection.

Old Jerry the grave digger at St Peters 60 years ago.

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Sketch. Probably 1880s.

From a bound volume 'Sketches' in private collection.

Lucy Milward - 'What dost thou want, Reuben?'

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Sketch. Probably 1880s.

From a bound volume 'Sketches' in private collection.

Another childhood memory of a visit to a shop.

On the 1851 census Lucy Milward is a widow living in Nottingham St Peter. She was a tallow chandler born about 1790 in Loughborough.

My dear friend was sick - I visited him.

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Sketch. Dated 28 January 1886.

From a bound volume 'Sketches' in private collection.

Prospero and Miranda - The Tempest, act 1 scene 2

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Sketch. About 1886.

From a bound volume 'Sketches' in private collection.

Approaching old age, Reuben is illustrating Shakespeare's last play. Reuben had no children but the father-daughter relationship of Prospero and Miranda may have reminded Reuben of his relationship with Polly, now a young woman.

This may be one of two pictures exhibited at the Nottingham Castle Museum in 1884. It is described in the Nottinghamshire Guardian for 16 May 1884. "In monochrome is dainty..."

Prospero and Miranda - The Tempest, act 1 scene 2

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Oil on earthenware plate. 1886.

Private collection.

Although the title and subject are the same as the sketch, the expressions are quite different. The carefree Miranda of the sketch has become the dutiful and attentive daughter.

Launce and his Dog - Two Gentlemen of Verona, act 4 scene 3

Oil on earthenware plate. 1886.

Private collection.

Reuben's pictures often have dogs - here the dog steals the scene.

Written on the sketch for the painting is the quotation is "O,tis a foul thing when a cur cannot keep himself in all companies!". In this scene, Launce names his dog as Crab. Launce was servant to Proteus, one of the Two Gentlemen.

For sale

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Sketch. Dated '1888 at 70'.

From a bound volume 'Sketches' in private collection.

Self portrait

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Oil on wood. Probably 1880s.

Private collection.

The last known self portrait. Reuben also appears in several photographs about this time.

The picture was once in the possession of Gladys Pentecost, great niece of Reuben's wife Elizabeth.

Oil painting 1890.

Private collection.

395 × 295 mm

Included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mr John T Goodwin. No 44 in catalogue, given the title 'The Rat Catchers'. The title on the back of the picture is 'The Rat Catcher'.

13in × 16.5in. Details from Neales of Nottingham auction catalogue 19 July 2002.

May be the same oil painting titled 'Going to the Fair' included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894, lent at that time by Mrs Reuben Bussey. No 16 in catalogue.

Oil on canvas, 1892.

Collection: Nottingham Central Library

33 × 43 cm.

Reproduced on the BBC Your Paintings website.

On the Dart

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Oil on canvas.

Private collection.

Near Budby, Sherwood Forest, Notts.

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Oil on canvas.

Private collection.

(Unknown - fenland scene)

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Oil on canvas.

Private collection.

Drawing.

Private collection,

The man in armour suggests a medieval subject probably with some connection with the history of Nottingham

300 × 200 mm approx.

Oil on canvas.

Private collection.

One of the monochrome illustrations in Heather Williams's 1981 thesis. Original 30 × 24.75 inches.

Williams's notes Bussey painted several versions of this scene. A drawing with the same title was included in the 'Special Exhibition of works by Reuben Bussey' at the Castle Museum, February 1894. No 84/7 in catalogue.

Sold at Neales of Nottingham auction February 2005, 36.5 × 30.5 cm.

The street is probably St Peter's Gate looking towards Bridlesmith Gate. Note there are several features in common with 'Street scene in Nottingham' painted in the 1860s (see above) including the three posts at the end of St Peter's Church Walk.

Photographs of Reuben Bussey

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