Large oil framed on canvas showing boats on a canal with workmen in the foreground. The painting is mounted in a quality gilt frame and signed by the artist Tony van Os.
Tony van Os, was a Belgian artist born in Antwerp in 1886 and died in Temse in 1945. He was a painter, draftsman and illustrator. Born as the seventh son in a large family. His father ran a thriving printing house where from 1891 the newly founded daily newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen was printed. He was educated at the Academy and at the Higher Institute in Antwerp and was a pupil of Frans Lauwers.
He portrayed people in their original environment. His religious scenes initially showed influence from the English Pre-Raphaelites. His landscape paintings are characterised by the misty grey of a damp air and the pale brown of the earth.
He was a member of Pelgrim, an association of visual artists, musicians and authors, whose aim was to revalue Christian art in Flanders. Many of his works were of scenes from the banks of the Scheldt or in front of the church in Westrode. He has work in the museum in Antwerp and is mentioned in BAS I and Two Centuries of Signatures of Belgian Artists. (PIRON)