John Gregory Crace

Sale, London, Sotheby's, 10 July 1997, lot 116,
where acquired by Bernadette and William M.B. Berger, Denver, Colorado

The watercolour is in very fine condition, with fresh, strong colours. The sheet is laid down. The pen and ink drawing is also in good condition. There is, however, some very minor surface dirt to the sheet. The work is not 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 1824, the famous tenor John Braham bought the site of the St James’s Theatre, a run-down hotel in King Street Piccadilly for £8,000. He spent a further £18,000 on a new building designed by Samuel Beazley and built by Grissell & Peto. He entrusted the decoration of the interior to the firm of Frederick Crace. The Crace firm of interior decorators was founded by a coach decorator, Edward Crace, in 1768. It expanded in the early nineenth century and especially in the 1830s under the supervision of John Gregory Crace.

The theatre at this date was described as follows: ‘three and two guinea private boxes adorned the proscenium which [were] surmounted by two circles of five-shilling boxes underneath a one-and-sixpenny gallery.’¹

1. D. Barry, The St James’s Theatre – Its Strange & Complete History, London 1964, p. 4