William Taverner

Sir Bruce Stirling Ingram, O.B.E. (1877-1963) (L.1405a);
his executor's sale, London, Sotheby's, 21 October 1964, lot 174, to Agnew's;
with Agnew's, London, by whom sold in 1966 to Walter Brandt

 

Although the image remains clear some of the more delicate pigments have faded slightly. There are areas of minor surface dirt to the sheet and there is a water stain towards the upper left hand corner of the sheet. The sheet has not been laid down.
"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."

The precise location of this watercolour is not known. It is, however, possible that it shows a landscape in the east end of London, where Taverner worked as a lawyer for the Archbishop of Canterbury.  

Despite his amateur status, Taverner was highly respected as a watercolourist. George Vertue described him in 1733 as possessing 'a wonderful genius to drawing of Landskap [sic]'¹ and in 1966 Martin Hardie considered him to be 'our first regular and systematic painter of free landscape in watercolour.²

1. 'Vertue Note Books', Walpole Society, 1933-1934, p.68
2. Martin Hardie, Water-colour Painting in Britain, vol. 1, 1966, p. 69