The Castillian Spring at Delphi, Greece

Details

Richard Dadd (1817-1886)
The Castillian Spring at Delphi, Greece
numbered '7.' (lower left) signed 'Richd. Dadd' and with inscription 'DELPHI spring castalian [sic]' (on the reverse)
pencil and watercolour
10 1/8 x 7 in. (25.7 x 18 cm.)

Provenance

The Artist's brother and by descent in the family to Capt. R.H. Dadd, 1972.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 24 November 1977, no. 73.

Exhibited

London, Tate Gallery, The Late Richard Dadd, 1974-5, no. 76, illustrated, lent by A Matthews.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Sale room notice

We are pleased to announce that this lot has been sold to The Bethlem Art and History Collection Trust.

Lot Essay

Richard Dadd visited Delphi on 24 August 1843. He wrote to David Roberts, R.A., saying 'We visited the Castilian Fountain and drank of its inspiring waters. Alas! how this place has changed! Where formerly the priestess raved out the oracle of the deity, now angry washerwomen rave out an intolerable jargon of abuse at each other. The waters, once deemed full of inspiration, are now full of frogs and watercresses; and I think, from the repute in which the place is held by the people of the present day, that the goddess might be obliged to sell those same watercresses for her living'
Another sketch of the same subject is in the Dadd sketchbook, Victoria and Albert Museum.

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