Smith, Charles Hamilton

Large 4to (410 x 320mm.), 145 WATERCOLOURS by Charles Hamilton Smith on 143 leaves (all but 4 are full-page), all identified with manuscript captions and almost all initialled or signed by the artist, later Spanish calf gilt, lettered on spine "Original drawings of Lt. Col. Hamilton Smith. Views - Constantinople. Greece", top edge gilt, lower joint slightly split

Sotheby's, sale of "Fine English 18th and 19th century drawings and paintings", 20 November 1963, lot 16

Good condition
"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."

A FINE COLLECTION OF WATERCOLOUR VIEWS OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE.

The views include (approximate numbers): Turkey (60, including 19 of Constantinople and environs), Crete (15), Greece (13), Corfu (11), Iraq (14, including 5 of Baghdad and environs), Rhodes (3), Balkans (2), Romania (7), Albania (6), Syria (3), Bulgaria, Macedonia, the Caucasus, Sicily, and others unidentified.

All the watercolours are numbered in the top right, but have been bound in a fairly random order. The volume bears an old pencil note at the front "July 1861. Vol.II . Greek Drawings. 144". A few of the watercolours have the original source noted, such as "from Grelot", "old print", "Askwith R.A.", "W. Hamilton" (presumably Hamilton's Researches in Asia Minor, 1842), "Rev. Vyv. Arundell" (presumably Arundell's Discoveries in Asia Minor, 1834), though most are unattributed, such as a number which may be traced to Buckingham's Travels in Mesopotamia (1827).

Lt. Col. Charles Hamilton Smith (1776-1859) "from a very early age, industriously sketched and accumulated data. His interests were wide, so that his sketchbooks included historical, zoological, archaeological, and topographical subjects. His interest in such topics persisted through his time as a soldier; after retirement [in 1820] they became all-absorbing. His manuscript notes (and thousands of watercolour drawings) were made mostly for his own instruction and that of any student who asked to see them" (ODNB). Following his death his collection of nearly 15,000 drawings was sold as one lot by Puttick and Simpson on 20 July 1860, to 'Smith' for £500.