The Connoisseurs

Details

Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)
The Connoisseurs
signed and dated 'Rowlandson.1785.' (lower left)
pencil, black and grey ink and watercolour
12 5/8 x 15 5/8 in. (32 x 39.7 cm.)

Provenance

The Right Hon. The Earl of Warwick; [+] Christie's, London, 20-21 May 1896, lot 337 as 'Visitors at an Exhibition of Sporting Paintings' (sold 30 gns to Gribble).
Possibly with Sabin, from whom purchased by Robinson and Farr.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 1 April 1976, lot 43, £1,485, where purchased by Agnew's on behalf of David and Beryl Harris.

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

Please note that the signature and date have been added by a later hand.

Lot Essay

This spirited drawing with its great fluidity of line is a tour de force by Rowlandson. Rowlandson has depicted a popular subject, that of people viewing an exhibition-a great source of material for those interested in observing people and their peculiarities, Rowlandson executed drawings of Mr Michell's Picture Gallery, Grove House Enfield.

This drawing was previously in the collection of the 4th Earl of Warwick, who also owned the celebrated Box Lobby Loungers (The J. Paul Getty Museum, California). It has been suggested that the figure with the order of garter is possibly the Prince Regent, who was known to purchase two drawings from Rowlandson the following year.

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