Joseph Hearne

This work is well preserved. There is some minor surface dirt and occasional minor scratches to the surface. In the sky, some fox marks have been skilfully repaired. However, they are still visible on close inspection. At the extreme edges of the sheet on the original mount, there is some discolouration. This is hidden by the modern mount.
"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."

Joseph Hearne travelled to Russia in 1787 and settled in St. Petersburg. He remained there until at least 1793, the year he married Ellen Richest, the daughter of a Russia Company merchant. Hearne’s reputation rests on a group of engravings that were executed between 1789 and 1790 by Thomas Malton (1726–1801), from the watercolour drawings made by Hearne upon his arrival in Russia.

Hearne's watercolours are held in the following public collections: the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Victoria and Albert and the British Museum in London. Anthony Cross writes extensively about the artist in his book By The Banks of the Neva: Chapters from the lives and careers of the British in Eighteenth-century Russia.

The current composition shows the view the Moscow Kremlin from the east with the Bolshoy Moskovetsky Bridge that spans Moskva River and connects Red Square with Bolshaya Ordyanka Street.