Hugh William 'Grecian' Williams (? Devon 1773-1829 Edinburgh)
Hugh William 'Grecian' Williams (? Devon 1773-1829 Edinburgh)

An extensive view of Thebes, Greece

Details
Hugh William 'Grecian' Williams (? Devon 1773-1829 Edinburgh)
An extensive view of Thebes, Greece
signed 'H.W. Williams/Edinh' (lower right)
pencil and watercolour with gum arabic and with scratching out
19¾ x 27½ in. (50.2 x 69.8 cm.)
Provenance
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 17 October 2001, lot 15.
Engraved
The artist for Select Views in Greece with Classical Illustrations, London, 1823, I, no. 6.

Brought to you by

Benjamin Peronnet
Benjamin Peronnet

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Lot Essay

Similar to a watercolour by Williams of the same view in the Benaki Museum, Athens (no. 25194), dated 1819, the present lot depicts the city of Thebes, at one time a major rival to Athens, in a particularly Claudian manner.

On visiting Thebes in 1839 the Reverend S.S. Wilson, overwhelmed by the history of the area, exclaimed 'What a sight! What vivid recollections! There, Homer's chivalric bands had fought, and sinned and bled. There, many a bard had sung, many a hero had multiplied widows and orphans...There, inspired apostles had taught 'the glorious gospel'' (F.-M. Tsigakou, The Rediscovery of Greece, London, 1981, p.71).

For further information on Williams see lot 181.

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