View of Coniston Water, Cumbria, with figures and a farm-cart in the foreground

Details

Francis Wheatley, R.A. (1747-1801)
View of Coniston Water, Cumbria, with figures and a farm-cart in the foreground
with inscription 'Coniston Lake' (lower right, in the margin)
pencil, pen and grey ink, and watercolour
13½ x 20 7/8 in. (34.3 x 53 cm.)

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

Sale room notice

Please note that the present watercolour was engraved by Samuel Middiman for Select views in Great Britain, engraved by S. Middiman, from pictures and drawings by the most emiment artists. With descriptions, London, 1785, IV, pl. 14. For further information see P. Bicknell, The Picturesque Scenery of the Lake District 1752-1855. A Bibliographical Study, 1990, pp. 100-1. The other view of Coniston Lake by Wheatley, which was included in the same publication, is in the collection of the Whitworth Art Gallery, see C. Nugent, British Watercolours in the Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester, London, 2002, p. 284.

Lot Essay

The building depicted is possibly the inn at Coniston, certainly the building and chimneys in particular are consistent with Lake District architecture. The mountains beyond are possibly those on the west side of the lake with Caw in the distance. An oil painting by Ibbetson and John Rathbone, closely related in composition, is in the collection of Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, see J. Mitchell, Julius Caesar Ibbetson (1759-1817), London, 1999, p. 94.

We are grateful to Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Trust for their help in preparing this catalogue entry.

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