JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. | Canterbury Gate, Christ Church, Oxford

William, Viscount Stormont, later 3^rd Earl of Mansfield (1777-1840);
Sir Leicester Harmsworth, 1^st Bt. (1870-1937);
with Meatyard, London;
with the Cotswold Gallery, London, by 1935;
R. Stuard-Lomas;
sale, London, Sotheby's, 22 March 1979, lot 145, bt. Agnew's;
with Agnew's, London,
by whom sold to the late owner

Oxford, Ashmolean Museum, Turner's Oxford, 2000, no. 21

A. Wilton, The Life and Work of J.M.W. Turner, Fribourg 1979, p. 334, no. 306

Certain watercolours pigments in this work have faded with time, this is particurlarly noticeable when the work is unframed and when one compares the extreme right hand edge of the sheet with the tones in the trees. Despite this, many of the more stable pigments, the yellow and browns, remain intact. The paper has yellowed and there are a number of repaired foxmarks in the sky. The sheet is thin and is laid down to a card. The work would benifit greatly from cleaning.
"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 this watercolour, which dates to circa 1796, Turner looks towards Christ Church and the entrance to Canterbury Quad. In the middle distance three gowned members of the university walk down King (now Merton) Street, while behind the imposing triumphal arch, which was designed by James Wyatt (1746-1813), the spire of Christ Church Cathedral stands proud. The watercolour is one of four that was acquired and possibly commissioned by William, Lord Stormont, later 3^rd Earl of Mansfield, whose family seats were Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath and Scone Palace in Scotland. Lord Stormont was a ‘nobleman commoner’ at Christ Church between 1794 and 1796 and during his time at the university he lived on the south side of Canterbury Quad, just through Wyatt’s arch. His three other Turner watercolours of the college are: Christ Church from near Carfax, circa 1796 (National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa), Tom Tower from the Canons Gardens, circa 1799-1800 (Private Collection) and Christ Church Hall from the Staircase (Leeds City Art Galleries). We are grateful to Ian Warrell for his help when cataloguing this lot.