View of Westminter Abbey from St James's, London

Details

Peter de Wint, O.W.S. (1784-1849)
View of Westminter Abbey from St James's, London
with inscription 'Westmin[ster] Abbey. Original Sketch by P. Dewint' (on the mount lower left) with paper stamp (lower right) and with inscription 'Westminster Abbey from the Park./Original sketch by P. Dewint' (on the reverse)
pencil and watercolour with scratching out
14¼ x 21 3/8 in. (36.2 x 54.3 cm.)

Provenance

Lady Sarah Hay-Williams (née Amherst), a pupil of the artist.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

De Wint painted many views of the Thames but few views of central London are known. His most famous London watercolour depicts Westminster Palace, Hall and Abbey from the Bridge (Victorian & Albert Museum, P.61-1921) and is dated 1808. Another watercolour of the Abbey is recorded as lot 137 on day two of the Christie's sale of the contents of De Wint's studio, 23 May 1850 and a further view was lot 276.
De Wint's Views of London, engraved by Charles Heath are considered the best work that he executed for engraving. The plates were published in 1825 and the view of Westminster was based on his 1808 watercolour.

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