Thomas Girtin

A.T. Keen;
C.A. Keen;
his sale, London, Sotheby’s, 20 April 1972, lot 57;
Edward Fremantle;
his sale, London, Christie’s, 20 November 1984, lot 102

Yorkshire, Harewood House, Thomas Girtin, Genius in the North, 1999, no. 23
London, Tate Britain, Thomas Girtin: The Art of Watercolour, 2002, no. 133

D. Hill, Thomas Girtin, Genius in the North, Leeds 1999, p. 42, no. 23

The composition of this grand watercolour remains easily readable and clear. There has been some fading to the more delicate pigments, which has increased the sense of red-brown to the image. The sheet itself is in fine condition and is typical of the type of paper Thomas Girtin used. There is a foxmark visible to the right of the trees in the sky.
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This watercolour can be dated circa 1800 and forms part of a small group of works that Girtin painted during his summer sketching tour in the north of England in that year. Girtin knew Yorkshire and northern England well. He first travelled there in 1797 and was quick to build up a loyal circle of patrons. Chief amongst these was Edward Lascelles whose family seat, Harewood House, was situated only a few miles to the west from the present view.

Girtin depicts the picturesque market town of Wetherby, which is positioned on the River Wharfe and the Great North Road. Despite the town’s significance it was not often recorded by artists and this drawing is a rare document of its eighteenth century appearance. Furthermore, Wetherby’s waterfront has been heavily built upon since Girtin’s time and this view has now been almost entirely lost. In the British Museum there is second surviving watercolour of Wetherby Bridge by Girtin. In that work the artist looks east, perhaps from the weir, through the bridge’s arches towards more cottages and a mill.¹

1. G. Smith, op. cit., p. 173, no. 134