Thomas Rowlandson

Sale, Godalming, Hamptons Fine Art, 8 April 1998, lot 98

This work is in generally good condition. Some of the more delicate pigments may of softened a little and the sheet is one or two tones darker than it was in the 18th century. There are a small number of tiny foxmarks, but these can only be seen on very close inspection. For its age the work is well preserved.
"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."

This panoramic view of Southampton is a fine example of Rowlandson working as a ‘pure’ landscapist. In 1784, in the company of the amateur painter and caricaturist Henry Wigstead, he made a tour of the south of England. The two friends hired a fast carriage and for just under two weeks visited many well-known places, including Salisbury, Southampton, Lymington, Cowes, Portsmouth and Wilton. The sketches Rowlandson made on this tour provided him with reference material for later decades. There are, for example, watercolours of Southampton, dating to the 1790s, in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Yale Centre for British Art, New Haven.