catalog text
"A CLASSICAL LANDSCAPE WITH CASTLE RUINS" BY GEORGE SMITH OF CHICHESTER (ENGLISH, 1714-1776)
An exceptional scene later engraved by William Woollett; executed in oil on canvas before 1774; unsigned
Item # C104023
An exquisite landscape depicting a quaint rural farm with a young woman and her daughter playing with their dog before a calm pool of water where a figure rests on the bank; the thatched roof residence across the water shows two figures inside of the fenced porch looking over their grazing sheep. In the distance, the more substantial roof line of the city is visible peering through the dense coverage of the forest. All of this is situated around the focal point of the scene: ruins of a hilltop castle.
The earliest ownership of present work was by Robert Saltonstall, who lent it to William Woollett (English, 1735-1785) to be engraved for publication April 4th of 1774. This engraving is held in the permanent collection of the British Museum (acc. no. 1869,0410.1474) and offers valuable insight into the period the painting was produced as well as establishing the authorship beyond question. High quality images of the engraving executed by Woollett after this painting and further information are available on the British Museum's website. The present work is a rare find, one of Smith's few surviving paintings that were selected for publishing via engraving.
Born in Chichester in 1714, George Smith of Chichester specialized primarily in landscape scenes with figures and buildings, though he also produced some number of competent still-life images as well as some genre studies. His work became very popular after William Woollett produced engravings of his works, enabling a much larger market to experience his landscapes. His likeable nature and his skills as a poet and musician also contributed to his success. He exhibited in London from 1760 through 1774 and sent no less than 103 works to the exhibitions of the Free Society. His works include about 50 plates that he engraved with his brother John Smith, these taken from their landscapes. He studied nature when painting the area around his home town and was inspired by the classical conception of Claude Lorraine and Poussin. [Source: E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol. XII, Gründ, 2006, p. 1366]
Markings/labels:
- Two labels verso "M697"
- One handwritten label verso "Viscount Midleton no. 8 / Landscape with farm and other buildings / G. Smith of Chichester / 26/2/90 ...172..."
- One typed gallery label "George Smith of Chichester (1714-1776) / Landscape / oil on canvas / 5963
- A handwritten reproduction of the stretcher label "1890, Feb 26th / Viscount Midleton / No. 8 / Landscape with farm and other buildings / G. Smith of Chichester" and stamped lower right "THE....GALLERIE / 5, GREAT NEWPORT STREET..."
Provenance:
- Original ownership by Robert Saltonstall, established during the engraving and publication of the painting on April 4th of 1774
- Collection of Trevor Lowther Brodrick, 11th Viscount Midleton of Peper Harow (1903–1988)
- Christies, 18 November 1989, lot 59
- The Parker Gallery, London
- Acquired from the above for a private collection in Virginia and held until the present
Measurements: 17" H x 25 1/8" W [canvas]; 23" H x 30 7/8" W x 2" D [frame]
Condition Report:
Relined. Light surface craquelure throughout. Surface overall vibrant with minor edge losses from frame rubbing. Under UV showing touch-ups around the perimeter, touch ups to streaks of craquelure (mostly in the sky) and scattered touchups in the darker portions of the painting. Frame is old and retains some early gilding, much of it refreshed with later gilding; cracking and losses to the frame as expected.