Left: A Camel Driver, by William J. Webb(e) (1830-1912[?]). 1866. Oil on panel. Oval, 13 x 10 inches (33 x 25.5 cm). Private collection. Image courtesy of Sotheby's, London. Right: The Homeward Journey. Signed and dated 1869, inscribed on reverse "The Homeward Journey/W.J. Webbe/Purchased from the Exhibition of the Society of British Artists/ Suffolk St/ Pall Mall" further inscribed "N. Pearce." Oil on panel. 13 x 9 ½ inches (34 x 24.5 cm). Provenance: C. Lucas Esq. Private collection. Image courtesy of Maas Gallery, London. [Click on the images to enlarge them.]
Like his friend and neighbour, William Gale, with whom he travelled to the Middle East in 1862, Webb(e) painted on panels with a luminous palette in a Pre-Raphaelite manner. He was trained in Dusseldorf. — George P. Landow.
Commentary by Dennis T. Lanigan
Webb(e) exhibited The Homeward Journey at the Society of British Artists in 1870, no. 499. It features a camel driver walking and leading his camel on their homeward journey. Another version of this composition dated 1866, suggesting this was the first version completed, was painted in an oval form and entitled A Camel Driver. It was once in the collection of Gianni Versace at Villa Fontanelle in Molstrasio and sold at Sotheby's, London, March 18, 2009, lot 369. Although the compositions of these two works are similar, and they are nearly the same size, their palettes differ markedly as do the time of day they portray and their landscape backgrounds. In A Homeward Journey the time is sunset. The camel driver wears a red robe, covered with a light brown outer garment, and his head covering, the keffiyeh, is primarily a dark blue colour. A Camel Driver is set in the bright sunshine of midday and the driver's robe is a light bright blue and covered with an outer garment that is primarily an off-white. His keffiyeh is primarily a tawny colour.
The Homeward Journey is again very similar to the work of his friend William Gale with whom he travelled to the Middle East in 1862.
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Bibliography
Paintings, Furniture and Works of Art from the Collection of Gianni Versace at Villa Fontanelle in Molstrasio. London: Sotheby's (18 March 2009): lot 369.
Pre-Raphaelitism. Exhibition catalogue. London: Maas Gallery, 2013. No. 9.
Refining Taste: Works Selected by Danny Katz. London: Sotheby's (27 May 2020): lot 52.
Victorian and Edwardian Art. London: Sotheby's (13 July 2010): lot 49, 50.
Last modified 2 June 2025