John Frederick Lewis, R.A.

Lieutenant Colonel W. Hewitt;
His sale, Sotheby's, 27 June 1968, lot 66, where bought by Thomas Agnew & Sons Ltd.;
Bought from Agnew's by Sir David Scott, 5 February 1969 for £400

SHEET The sheet has been not been laid down, but is instead attached to the back board at various points verso. The sheet has not suffered from discoloration. PAINT SURFACE The medium is strong and fresh and has been well preserved. FRAME Held in a decorative gilded composite frame.
"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."

This is an enchanting, quickly observed study of a young girl who took the young John Frederick Lewis' eye. He executed the drawing whilst living in Spain during the early 1830s. The artist arrived there in August 1832, and was to return to England eighteen months later in early 1834. He first visited Madrid, where he was described by his friend and amateur artist Richard Ford as 'a clever artist... who is about to make a picturesque tour of Spain' (see Major-General Michael Lewis C.B.E, John Frederick Lewis R.A. 1805-1876, 1978, p. 15). In the course of the ensuing months Lewis visited, amongst other places: Granada, Toledo, Seville, Gibraltar and Ronda, sketching feverishly the sights and inhabitants of each region.

Lewis clearly admired the pretty young girl in the present work as he used her as a model in another watercolour, A Spanish Girl, now in the collection of the British Museum (Fig 1).