Hampstead Heath
Maker
(artist)
1703-1772
1703-1772
Title
Hampstead Heath
Date of Production
(circa) 1765
Medium
graphite and watercolour on laid paper, laid down on Japanese tissue
Dimensions
Height: 31.4 cm
Width: 39.2 cm
Width: 39.2 cm
Accession Number
D.1967.WS.90
Mode of Acquisition
William Wycliffe Spooner, bequest, 1967
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Location
Not currently on display
Keywords
Label Text
Taverner’s reputation was made through his friend Tobias Smollett who, in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (1771), wrote: ‘His trees not only have a richness of foliage and warmth of colouring which delights the view, but also a certain magnificence in the disposition and spirit in the expression.’ At a time when tinted drawings were prevalent, Taverner’s watercolour style is remarkable for its looseness and informality, as evident in the treatment of foliage seen here. His depiction of woodland, mostly around London, owed much to the influence of Dutch landscape painters.
Notes
Taverner’s experimental use of watercolour was influenced by the structural composition of Italian and Dutch oil paintings. He also worked for the ecclesiastical Arches Court in London, allowing him to earn a living separate to his artistic production.
Provenance
Sir H.F. Wilson; purchased from him by Leonard G. Duke, London (1890-1971) in 1933; Colnaghi (London); William Wycliffe Spooner, Ilkley (1882-1967); Spooner Bequest 1967
Exhibition History
British Watercolours from the Spooner Collection, Huntington Museum and Art Gallery, Los Angeles, 12/02/2005-15/05/2005
British Watercolours from the Spooner Collection, Huntington Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 12/02/2005-15/05/2005; Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere, 18/07/2005-23/10/2005; Hermitage Rooms, Somerset House, London, 16/11/2005-12/02/2006
The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/09/1986-30/11/1986; The Drawing Center, New York, 08/04/1986-26/07/1986 ...More
English Landscape Drawings and Watercolours, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/06/1979-01/09/1979
Exhibition of Drawings and Watercolours from the Spooner and Witt Collections, Australia, New Zealand, 1976-78
The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1974
English Watercolours: The Spooner Collection and Bequest, City Art Gallery, Bristol, 11/05/1973-02/06/1973
The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/04/1968-01/07/1968
British Art Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 06/01/1934-10/03/1934 ...Less
British Watercolours from the Spooner Collection, Huntington Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 12/02/2005-15/05/2005; Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere, 18/07/2005-23/10/2005; Hermitage Rooms, Somerset House, London, 16/11/2005-12/02/2006
The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/09/1986-30/11/1986; The Drawing Center, New York, 08/04/1986-26/07/1986 ...More
English Landscape Drawings and Watercolours, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/06/1979-01/09/1979
Exhibition of Drawings and Watercolours from the Spooner and Witt Collections, Australia, New Zealand, 1976-78
The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1974
English Watercolours: The Spooner Collection and Bequest, City Art Gallery, Bristol, 11/05/1973-02/06/1973
The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/04/1968-01/07/1968
British Art Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 06/01/1934-10/03/1934 ...Less
Literature
The Spooner Collection of British Watercolours, Courtauld Institute Galleries; Huntington Library; Wordsworth Trust, 2005-06
cat. no. 3
ill. on p. 79
Sloan, Kim, A noble art: amateur artists and drawings masters, c.1600-1800, London, 2000
p. 89 under no. 57
The Northern Landscape. Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Drawing Center, New York; Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1986
no. 106
ill. on p. 237 ...More
The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1986
cat. no. 106
ill. on p. 237
English Landscape Drawings and Watercolours, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1979
cat. no. 2
Exhibition of Drawings and Watercolours from the Spooner and Witt Collections, Australia, New Zealand, 1976 - 1978
cat. no. 1
The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1974
cat. no. 7
English Watercolours: The Spooner Collection and Bequest, City Art Gallery, Bristol, 1973
cat. no. 50
Reynolds, Graham, Watercolours: a concise history, London, 1971
fig. 34
Troutman, Philip, 'The Evocation of Atmosphere in the English Water-colour' in Apollo, July 1968
p. 53
fig. 1 on p. 51
see attached PDF
The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1968
cat. no. 2
pl. II ...Less
cat. no. 3
ill. on p. 79
Sloan, Kim, A noble art: amateur artists and drawings masters, c.1600-1800, London, 2000
p. 89 under no. 57
The Northern Landscape. Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Drawing Center, New York; Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1986
no. 106
ill. on p. 237 ...More
The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1986
cat. no. 106
ill. on p. 237
English Landscape Drawings and Watercolours, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1979
cat. no. 2
Exhibition of Drawings and Watercolours from the Spooner and Witt Collections, Australia, New Zealand, 1976 - 1978
cat. no. 1
The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1974
cat. no. 7
English Watercolours: The Spooner Collection and Bequest, City Art Gallery, Bristol, 1973
cat. no. 50
Reynolds, Graham, Watercolours: a concise history, London, 1971
fig. 34
Troutman, Philip, 'The Evocation of Atmosphere in the English Water-colour' in Apollo, July 1968
p. 53
fig. 1 on p. 51
see attached PDF
The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1968
cat. no. 2
pl. II ...Less
Inscriptions
Watermark: Watermark: Recto, left centre: crowned circle with writing around the edges “HONI SOIT MAL Y PENSE” containing a quartered coat of arms comprising lions, fleur-de-lis and a harp. Countermark: Recto, right centre: circle containing imperial crown above “GR” encompassed by laurel leaves (both marks match Churchill 214 – 1733).
Inscription: Mount (removed, recorded in M+), Verso: graphite: “Hampstead Heath 1765 / William Taverner”; pen and ink: “89b Query Taverner”.
Inscription: Mount (removed, recorded in M+), Verso: graphite: “Hampstead Heath 1765 / William Taverner”; pen and ink: “89b Query Taverner”.
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