Joseph Mallord William Turner, RA and Thomas Girtin

This watercolour was almost certainly painted at 8 Adelphi Terrace, the London home of Dr Thomas Monro (1759-1833), a leading physician who was also an enthusiastic amateur artist. 

During the winter evenings of the 1790s, Monro famously opened his doors to up-and-coming artists, giving them supper (often oysters, Turner's favourite), providing them with a place to meet and socialise as well as permitting them to make copies from his extensive collections.

Joseph Farington, the diariest and Royal Academician, discribed Monro's home as like an 'academy', observing that Turner and Girtin often collaborating together during these evenings. Girtin would draw the outlines before passing the sheet to Turner, who would concentrate on the colour washes.

For other 'Monro' school works by Turner and Girtin, please see lot 55 in the sale A Fine Line: Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries (7 July), and lot 185 in the present sale. For a portrait of Dr Thomas Monro, please see lot 188.