John Laporte

Captain St. Leger Barry, Ballyclough, Kilworth, County Cork;
by descent

The works in are very good condition and the medium in each case has remained strong and fresh.
"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."

John Laporte was born in Dublin and 1779 is recorded living in London as a pupil of the Irish-born landscape painter John Melchoir Barralet. Six years later Laporte was exhibiting landscapes at both the Royal Academy and British Institution. Laporte remained remained resident in London throughout his career and travelled extensively around England painting landscape scenes. However the majority of his landscape subjects were views of Ireland, and in particular Lake Killarney and the environs of County Kerry. Although it is difficult to say with any certainly, it is likely that some of the views in this lot and the following were indeed exhibited works.

Such was the esteem within which Laporte was held as a landscape painter by his contemporaries that he was invited by Dr Thomas Munro to teach as a drawing master at his evening school. It is highly likely that here Laporte would have met (and may even have taught) the young Munro School pupils Joseph Mallord William Turner and Thomas Girtin.