Edward Dayes 1763-1804

The sheet is sound although the painting has discoloured slightly . There is a small tear (approx 2cm long) on the bottom left edge. There is some staining to the lady's dress. Held in a gold painted frame in fair condition. Held under glass and unexamined out of frame.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present watercolour is an unusually large and rare figure drawing by Dayes and was possibly commissioned by one of the families he visited whilst travelling throughout Great Britain in pursuit of views which were destined to be engraved and printed.  Dayes was predominantly a topographical draughtsman, but he also occasionally painted miniatures and portraits.  He drew illustrations for books and towards the end of his career, he drew some large imaginative and semi-religious compositions.  Dayes also designed theatrical scenes, wrote extensively upon contemporary art, and taught the young watercolourist; Thomas Girtin (1775–1802).

Dayes first studied under William Pether (1738-1821), a mezzotint engraver and miniaturist. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1780, aged only seventeen, and began to regularly exhibit his works at the Royal Academy in 1786.  Although it is his topographical drawings for which he is best known, in the words of Adrian Bury, 'the more one looks at Dayes' work, the more convinced one is that he was a fine draughtsman of architecture and figures'  (as quoted by J. Dayes, 'Edward Dayes 1763-1804', Old Water Colour Society, Vol.XXXIX, 1964, p.55).