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Chestnut Tree at Little Wymondley, Hertfordshire

Maker

(Artists)
1744-1817

Title

Chestnut Tree at Little Wymondley, Hertfordshire

Date of Production

1789

Medium

graphite and grey wash on paper, laid down on artist's mount with the lower edge filled in on the mount

Dimensions

Height: 31.8 cm
Width: 46.3 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.4365

Mode of Acquisition

Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords





Related Works

Chesnut Tree at Wymondeley Parva, The

Label Text

An ancient, gnarled chestnut overshadows its tranquil surroundings, bare branches twisting out of the foliage with an almost menacing energy. William Gilpin wrote at length about this striking tree, which local lore claimed had been planted by the Romans and whose fame was widespread. Hearne had established his artistic reputation through his work on The Antiquities of Great Britain (1777-81), and his monumental treatment of great trees was informed by his architectural studies.

Notes

A related drawing in grey wash is in the collection of the Yale Center for British Art (inv. no. B1975.3.852). A related etching ('The chesnut tree at Wymondeley Parva, Hertfordshire', G.1990.WL.4443) by Benjamin Thomas Pouncy after Hearne was published in 1798. The tree itself is still standing and is likely about 400-500 years old.

Provenance

Squire Gallery (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), n.d.; Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

Drawings Gallery Display - Regarding Trees, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/06/2016-25/09/2016

About Time, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 24/02/2000-30/05/2000

Drawing in 18th Century Britain, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/03/1995-21/05/1995 ...More

Thomas Hearne 1744-1817: watercolours and drawings, Bolton, Southampton and Bath, 17/08/1985-11/01/1986 ...Less

Literature

Thomas Hearne 1744-1817: watercolours and drawings, Bolton, Southampton and Bath, 1985-86
no. 60
ill. on p. 81

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 26

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: unable to check as is laid down.

Inscription: Artist’s Mount, Recto: lower left corner of drawing, filled in, brown ink, signed and dated by the artist: “Hearne 1789”. Artist’s Mount, Verso: lower right, graphite: “5641” and “T. Hearne / Snd + dated 1789”.

Collector's mark: none.

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