Grand cricket match in Rome, at the Doria Pamphili Villa, between Eton and the rest of the world

The present watercolour and lot 66 were possibly intended to be reproduced as lithographs. The related pencil drawings were sold Christie's, South Kensington, 1 June 1990 lot 82. The names of the players were inscribed on a sheet sold along with the watercolour in 1978 'List of people on the ground at the Cricket Match at Rome in the Pamphili Doria Villa - 1850. Lord Balgonie Honble West Mr Owen Mr King Mr Franks Mr Oswald Augustus Smith Sir Francis Scott Mr Martin Tucker Smith Mr Martin Ridley Smith Mr Nicholl Mr George Ridley John Berridge (footman to M.T. Smith)'. Three further names presumably identify the spectators: 'Mr and Mrs Crawford, Mrs Lowther'.

The inclusion of the names of the various players and spectators suggest that the artist was attending the match. Some of the names have been identified as boys who were at Eton at that time and the match was probably organised privately by Etonians who happened to be in Rome.

Cricket had been played by Englishmen in Rome in the 18th Century, notably in the Borghese Gardens. British artists who were resident in Italy or making the Grand Tour joined in such games, and in March 1780, the artist Thomas Jones (1743-1803) recorded a cricket match between 'The English Cavaliers with as many of their country men among the Artists as they could muster'

Werner is documented as being in Italy between 1833 and 1853, he made several trips to England exhibiting at the Royal Academy and frequently at the New Watercolour Society.