John Linnell

Agnew's, London;
Lowell Libson, London, February 2006

This watercolour has been very carefully presented and its condition is general good. There are perhaps been to minor fading to the more delicate pigments but there is a lovely sense of balance to the composition. The sheet has not been laid down. For further information on this lot please contact Mark Griffith-Jones on 0207 293 5083 or 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. 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."

Linnell painted this view of Southampton in 1819 while visiting his friend and pupil D.C. Reid. Although in later life Linnell would become a highly successful society portrait painter, he was perhaps at his most creative and artistically original during the early years of his career. In 1819 Linnell was twenty-seven years old, he was recently married and he found himself at the heart of an avant-garde art scene, led by the maverick painter and poet William Blake. It was within this context that he was able to create landscapes of great ‘vision and intensity’ (Katharine Crouan, John Linnell, Truth to Nature (A Centennial Exhibition), London 1982, p. IX).