William Marlow 1740-1813

Commissioned by Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Carnarvon (1741-1811);
Thence by descent to George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon (1866-1923), by who sold, Christie's, 3rd June 1918, lot 187, bt. Hulton for £346.10;
With Agnew's, from whom bought by Martins Bank;
Anon. sale, Christie's, 12th April, 1991, lot 59

Probably Royal Academy, 1788, no. 243 ("View of Blackfriars Bridge");
Guildhall Art Gallery, William Marlow, 1956, no. 1:
British Council Tour of Montreal, Ottawa, Torronto and Toledo, British Painting in the Eighteenth Century, 1957-58, no. 41

Catalogue of the Principal Pictures at Highclere Castle, 1880, Part I, p. 7, no. 7 (when in the Drawing Room) and Part II, p. 14, no. 35 (listed amongst the pictures added by Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Carnarvon)

The canvas has been lined. There is some craquelure visible in the white pigments of the clouds and in the foreground. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals a vertical restored damage just above the bridge to the right of the composition. The repaint has slightly discoloured and is visible under a strong white light. There is evidence of some infilling to lines of craquelure in the sky, to the outline of the buildings in the centre of the composition, and under the arches of the bridge. There is evidence of some older retouching in the brickwork of the bridge. Held in a carved wood frame. The colours of the original are richer and more saturated than suggested by the catalogue illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."

Blackfriars Bridge was designed by Robert Mylne, and was originally called Pitt Bridge. It owes its name to an old monastery situated on the north bank of the river, which dated from the end of the twelfth century. The first stone was laid on 31st October 1760 and it was opened on 19th November 1769, though it was replaced between 1864-9 by another bridge of the same name. The original Blackfriars Bridge shown in the painting consisted of nine arches, and was 995 feet in length from wharf to wharf. It was built at a cost of £152,840, 3 shillings and 10 pence - £163l less than the original estimate.

This view of the Thames was a favourite with Marlow and he painted it several times. There are versions of the picture in the Guildhall Art Gallery and at Yale. Oval variations are with the Corporation of London and at Castle Howard, and a watercolour and a preliminary sketch for this composition are in an album of London drawings by the artist in the British Museum. Marlow exhibited views of the Bridge at the Society of Artists in 1772 and 1774, on both occasions with a companion picture of Westminster Bridge.