Joseph Mallord William Turner R.A.

Sir William Drake, F.S.A. (1817-1890) (L.736);
by descent to Mrs E.K. Hornsby-Drake, her sale, London, Christie's, 11 March 1932, lot 69, one of a pair (to Boot, 12 gns.);
Sale, London, Sotheby's, 19 November 1987, lot 94

Although the the colors are still very much in evidence, there has been been some very minor fading to the pigments. The paper has darkened in a very minor way and there is evidence of light foxing. These faults do not detract from the overall balance of the composition. Located toward the upper left hand side of the sheet, there is a very small area of paper loss. At various intervals around the extreme edge of the watercolour the old mount and some dried glue remains attached to the sheet. The watercolour has been laid down. For further information on this lot please contact Mark Griffith-Jones at mark.griffithjones@sothebys.com.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Rye House lies on the road to the village of Hoddeston in the parish of Stansted, Hertfordshire. A fortified manor house was constructed here by Sir Andrew Ogard in 1443 and it is thought to have been one of the first brick buildings in the country.

The house was the location for an attempted assassination of Charles II in 1683. The then occupant Richard Rumbold had served in Oliver Cromwell's army during the civil war and plotted to attack the King at Rye House while the monarch was travelling to watch the races at Newmarket. Fortunately Rumbold and his co-conspirators were caught out and the attempt failed. 

Although the main Tudor house was demolished in the early 18^th Century, the subject of this watercolor, the gatehouse, still survives today. The present watercolor dates from circa 1793 when Turner was eighteen years old.

Sir William Drake, who owned this drawing, assembled a remarkable collection of prints, drawings, old master paintings and porcelain in the 19^th Century. A man of varied interests he was also a member of the Society of Antiquaries.