Christopher Norton (c. 1740-1799)

Diary and sketchbook from the Grand Tour

Details

Christopher Norton (c. 1740-1799)
Diary and sketchbook from the Grand Tour
signed 'C Norton', dated between '1763-1794' and variously incribed
the sketchbook: 47 pencil, 23 pen and brown ink, 21 pen and brown ink and grey wash drawings, fragmentary watermarks, 81 pages overall; the diary: 7 pencil, 11 pen and brown ink, 1 pencil and grey wash, 46 pages overall
the sketchbook 6½ x 4 in. (16.5 x 10.2 cm.) in contemporary vellum, the boards with a border of two blind-stamped fillets secured at the fore edges with two stamped brass clasps; the diary 10¼ x 71/8 in. (26.1 x 18.1 cm.) in contemporary vellum, the boards secured at the fore-edges by an Islamic flap and thong (2)

Provenance

Mrs. Davidson, previously Mrs. Norton and by descent.

Lot Essay

Norton was an engraver and antiquarian who lived in Rome between 1760 and 1790. He was closely associated with James Bryers (1734-1817), the important Scottish antiquarian and worked on many publications with him. The album contains annotations relating to Thomas Jenkins (1722-1798) the painter, dealer and antiquary, Thomas Jones (1742-1803) the artist and Hugh Douglas Hamilton (1740-1808) the portrait painter, whose pastel of Norton was sold at Christie's London, 22 November 1977, lot 108 (£450).

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