Reeves and Sons

Reeves
Company typePrivate (1766–1974)
Subsidiary (1974–76)
IndustryArt materials
Founded1766 in London
FounderWilliam Reeves
Defunct1976; 48 years ago (1976) [1]
FateAcquired by Reckitt and Colman in 1974, merged to Winsor & Newton in 1976, then other owners [1]
SuccessorColart Fine Art and Graphics
Headquarters
England
ProductsWatercolour paints
OwnerColart

Reeves and Sons is an English art materials brand and a former manufacturing company established by William Reeves (1739–1803) in 1766.[1][2] Reeves is credited with having invented the soluble watercolour.[3]

The brand is best known for its "Reeves" brand of artists' acrylic and watercolor paints. The firm went through various name changes during its history, listed as follows:

  • Thomas Reeves and Son 1784–1799
  • W. J. Reeves 1799–1800
  • Reeves and Woodyer 1800–1816
  • Reeves, Woodyer and Reeves 1817–1818
  • W. J. Reeves and Son 1819–1829
  • Reeves and Sons 1830–1890
  • Reeves and Sons Ltd 1891–1976

In 1974, the company was acquired by Reckitt and Colman, and then merged with Winsor and Newton, following Reckitt and Colman's acquisition in 1976 of the latter company. In 1991, ownership of the "Reeves" brand was acquired by Wilhelm Becker, through American conglomerate Colart.[4]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Reeves (watercolors).
  1. ^ a b c Reeves and Sons at GracesGuide
  2. ^ History of Watercolor painting
  3. ^ Watercolor painting in Britain on Met Museum
  4. ^ Pia Gottschaller. Lucio Fontana: The Artist's Materials Getty Publications, 2012. ISBN 9781606061145 Retrieved 11 January 2018.


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