Lot Essay
This watercolour appears to be the original drawing for the aquatint by Newton Fielding entitled Le Crotoy, vue de l'embouchure de la Somme for an unpublished continuation of J.F. d'Ostervald's Excursions sur les côtes et dans les ports de France, launched in 1823; this print was submitted to the censor in 1825. J.R. Abbey lists 41 plates issued between 1823 and 1825 (Abbey, Travels, vol. I, no. 92; for this project see P. Noon, Richard Parkes Bonington, exhibition catalogue, Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, and Petit Palais, Paris, November 1991 - May 1992, pp. 98-9 under no. 14). This watercolour, typical of Bonington's early dependence on the works of Louis Francia, dates from circa 1823 or slightly earlier. (We are indebted to Patrick Noon for additional information about this work.)
What appears from a photograph to be a replica or copy of this watercolour was sold by D. Ernst Hauswedell, Hamburg, 8 June 1972, no. 363, illustrated, Fischer am Strand, 19.5 x 27 cm., signed with monogram and apparently dated '1830'.
Another watercolour by Bonington entitled Shipping in a stormy Sea with Le Crotoy beyond was sold in these Rooms on 12 November 1996, lot 49 (£13,000).
What appears from a photograph to be a replica or copy of this watercolour was sold by D. Ernst Hauswedell, Hamburg, 8 June 1972, no. 363, illustrated, Fischer am Strand, 19.5 x 27 cm., signed with monogram and apparently dated '1830'.
Another watercolour by Bonington entitled Shipping in a stormy Sea with Le Crotoy beyond was sold in these Rooms on 12 November 1996, lot 49 (£13,000).