Astley's Amphitheatre of Equestrian Arts, London

Details

William Capon (Norwich 1757-1827 Westminster)
Astley's Amphitheatre of Equestrian Arts, London
signed, inscribed and dated 'drawing by Capon of Astley Amphitheatre in 1777/drawing made July 30^t^h 1777' (lower centre) and further inscribed 'sketch by' (lower right)
pencil, pen and grey ink, ochre and grey wash, on paper
5¼ x 7½ in. (13.3 x 19 cm.)

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 11 December 1990, lot 217.

Literature

North of England: Capon and Theatrical Scenes (catalogue not traced).
Captain A.V. Sutherland-Gaeme, F.S.A., 'Hashley's [sic.] Amphitheatre', Connoisseur, 1950, p. 186.

Engraved

C.J. Smith, Historical and Literary Curiosities, 1840, pl. 76, as 'Exterior View of Astley's Amphitheatre as it appeared in 1777'.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 17.5% on the buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

Sergeant-Major Philip Astley (1742-1814), of the 15th Light Horse Regiment, founded the famous equestrian theatre, based in Lambeth at the foot of Westminster Bridge, in 1770. The first permanent building, depicted in Capon's watercolour, was constructed in 1775, however, it burnt down in 1794. Capon also painted an interior view of the theatre in the same year illustrated in Captain A.V. Sutherland-Graeme's article in Connoisseur listed above.

See lot 45 for an oil painting by Capon.

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