A Fine Line: Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries
A Fine Line: Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries
Property from the Collection of the late Cyril and Shirley Fry
Thomas Gainsborough, R.A.
Wooded landscape with two figures on horseback travelling along a winding track
Auction Closed
July 7, 10:53 AM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from the Collection of the late Cyril and Shirley Fry
Thomas Gainsborough, R.A.
Sudbury 1727 - 1788 London
Wooded landscape with two figures on horseback travelling along a winding track
Brush and dark grey wash, within original wash-line mount;
inscribed verso: This drawing by Thomas Gainsborough, is respectfully presented to Mr John Frost, in token of esteem for his taste and abilities as an Artist, and his unassuming worth as a private Individual, by William Carey./ Ipswich, January the first, 1820
205 by 287 mm
who, according to the inscription, presented it to John Frost;
sale, London, Sotheby's, 5 April 1973, lot 8;
where acquired by Cyril and Shirley Fry
Gainsborough has executed this drawing with great confidence and John Hayes (loc. cit.) commended it on the 'rapid impressionistic technique', dating it to the later 1780s.
The inscription on the verso indicates that the Dublin born critic and art dealer, William Carey, once owned the work. Carey writes that he presented the drawing to the artist John Frost. However, no artist of that name is recorded, and Hayes suggested that Carey in fact meant to write George. George Frost (1745-1821) was a talented amateur artist who lived in Ipswich. He was a great admirer of Gainsborough and owned a number of his drawings.