Thomas Girtin (1775-1802) watercolour with pen and brown ink - The Dover mail coach, inscribed by a later hand 'JMWT' inscribed verso 'Dover Castle by Girtoin', 37.5 x 49cm.
Provenance: John Ruskin; H. C. Green, Cranley Lodge, Guildford, his sale Christie's, 22 February 1952, lot 102, bought by Thomas Agnew & Sons, London and sold to Sir David Scott on the same day for £86.12.0. Sold Sotheby's, London - The Pictures Collected By Sir David And Lady Scott, Sold To Benefit The Finnis Scott Foundation, 19 November 2008.
NB: This watercolour is believed to date to c.1792, The view is taken from a position a few miles short of Dover and the castle is drawn prominently in the centre of the composition. For years the painting was accepted as an example of the work of the young J.M.W. Turner, the opinion of John Ruskin the earliest known owner of the work and who wrote extensively about it, describing it as 'a drawing of his earliest boyhood.' (Ed. E.T Cook and A. Wedderburn, The Works of John Ruskin, 39 volumes 1903-12, Vol XIII, p. 413). It is only in recent decades that a partially obliterated inscription attributing the work to Girtin was discovered to the reverse and when last offered at auction by Sotheby's in 2008, Thomas Girtin was confirmed as the hand.
Sold for £10,500
Condition Report
Some all over discolouration and some fading, spotting in the sky and discoloured areas which may be now discoloured restoration. Picture had been inspected out of the frame (see attached images)
Fully attributed when offered at Sotheby's London in 2008, at that time expertise and contribution for the catalogue was included by Greg Smith and Susan Morris. We are not aware if this has been added to the catalogue raisonne
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Auction: Antiques & Fine Art, 7th Aug, 2024
Reeman Dansie is pleased to present the catalogue for the August Fine Art & Antiques sale, with almost 1200 lots to be sold over the course of two days, to include a Sporting section.
The sale begins with ceramics and glassware, with the usual range of English, continental and Asian pieces on offer; highlights include a wonderful 18th century Tournai dinner service, comprising 160 pieces (lot 150, £2500-4000).
Silver will follow, to include various lots of flatware and tea wares; other notable lots include a rare mid eighteenth century Irish provincial silver soup ladle (lot 200, £2500-3000).
A choice selection of jewellery, watches, and clocks will be sold next; two pieces that have caught our eye include a fine Art Deco diamond cocktail ring (lot 424, £2500-3000), and a Second World War Omega ‘dirty dozen’ wristwatch (lot 523, £1000-1500).
The day will conclude with works of art, with a number of eye-catching lots to be found, not least a bronze bust of a Roman emperor, purportedly dug up in a Colchester field (lot 711, £400-600).
Day two of the sale will start with the Sporting section, including a good selection of taxidermy, pictures, sculptures, books, and hunting-related items. A fine collection of antique tiger and leopard skins will be on offer, related by direct family descent from the legendary huntsman - and friend of Jim Corbett - Sir Archie William (Ibby) Ibbotson. Find out more using the button below.
A good selection of 200 pictures will follow, with everything from Old Masters to contemporary works on offer; one particular lot we anticipate a wave of interest for is a woodblock print of Hawaiian surfers by Charles William Bartlett (1860-1940) (lot 1100, £5000-7000).
The sale will conclude with furniture and rugs; once again a wide selection of pieces can be found to suit all tastes, from 17th century oak to Eames-style chairs.
We look forward to welcoming you to the sale, whether you’ll be bidding online or in the room.
Viewing
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