Lot 205
  • 205

ENGLISH SCHOOL, CIRCA 1750 | Views of the River Thames at Battersea and Putney

Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • English School, 1624
  • Views of the River Thames at Battersea and Putney
  • a pair, both oil on canvas
  • each: 18¼in by 35¾in

Provenance

Possibly with Knoedler, London, 1928;
With Gooden & Fox, London;
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 11 July 1990, lot 71.

Condition

The canvases are relined, cleaned and restored. Battersea: In generally good condition. Inspection under ultraviolet light shows scattered local retouchings and touching up of the craquelure throughout parts of the sky, and an area of damage 3 x 5 cm in the centre of the river. The masts and rigging of the sailing boat on the left have been strengthened. Putney: Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals extensive, meticulous touching up to the craquelure in the sky. There is a vertical 8 cm. repaired tear in the sky upper right centre. The buildings, figures and water are all very well preserved. All restorations have been very well carried out and are not obtrusive to the naked eye and both pictures will required only minimal attention. Offered in gilt wood frames.
"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

The view taken from near Battersea Church looking down the river towards Chelsea is based on an engraving by J. Boydell dated 1752, for which he also executed the drawing. Looking from the left, it shows Milman Street, Lindsey House and Beauford Street, all in Chelsea, with the church (now known as Chelsea Old Church) centre left, and Cheyne Walk behind the trees. On the south side of the river is shown Lord Bolingbroke's house, in which he died the year before the engraving, with St. Mary's Battersea, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book, in the foreground. The church was rebuilt in 1777. The view looking up the river from Putney Bridge is also based on a Boydell engraving, this time of 1749. Another version is in the Museum of London: only the boats differ in the two scenes.1 On the left, the view shows the small village of Putney, already famous for its villas and orchards, with the 15th century tower of St. Mary's Church. This was rebuilt in 1836, with the original tower retained, but gutted by fire in 1973. A fragment of the first Putney Bridge, which connected Putney and Fulham, is to be seen on the extreme left. The wooden bridge, built in 1729 by Thomas Phillips, carpenter to George II, was the only one above London Bridge until the opening of Westminster Bridge in 1750, and therefore gave its proprietors a good income from its tolls until this date. It was replaced by a stone bridge in 1882–86.

1 See M. Galinou & J. Hayes, London in Paint, Oil paintings in the Collection at the Museum of London, London 1996, p. 78, cat. no. 24, reproduced.