- 301
John White Abbott
Estimate
1,200 - 1,800 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- John White Abbott
- Aiguilles du Dru, near Chamonix
- Pen and grey ink and watercolour;
signed with the artist's monogram and inscribed verso: L'Aigle de sout drent / Fr. Towne JWA; further inscribed on a fragment of the old mount: L'aiguille Light R. (Light from the right hand side) F.T. JWA - 230 by 164 mm
Provenance
By descent in the artist's family until;
sale, London, Sotheby's, 21 March 2001, lot 171 (part of lot)
sale, London, Sotheby's, 21 March 2001, lot 171 (part of lot)
Literature
R. Stephens, A Catalogue Raisonné of Francis Towne (1739-1816), no. 834 (www.francistowne.ac.uk)
Condition
The pigments have been subtly applied to this work and they remain in good condition. The work 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
This drawing is based on a now lost work by Francis Towne. The scene is the vast Aiguilles du Dru, near Chamonix, drawn from Montanvert, the mountain that Towne had climbed to take a view of the Mer de Glace glacier on 16 September 1781. The sketching position is somewhat south-west of the present-day viewing platform on Montanvert, which suggests that Towne had descended to the glacier surface.
Abbott made more than twenty copies after Towne’s watercolours of Italy and Switzerland. Many are on Whatman paper dated 1813, and it is probable that Abbott painted them after Towne’s death in 1816. We are grateful to Dr Richard Stephens for his help when cataloguing this work.