Leonard G. Duke, London (1890-1971); his sale, Sotheby's (London), 21 May 1970, lot 32; Sir John Witt, London (1907-1982), L.646a; his sale, Sotheby's (London), 19 February 1987, lot 101; purchased there by the Art Fund and presented to The Courtauld in 1987

Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 16/10/1991-19/01/1992

Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1991
cat. no. 27
pp. 62, 177-78
ill. on p. 63

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Collector's mark: Fry label (removed, now in object file), Recto: lower left corner, stamped: Sir John Witt (L.646a).

Inscription: Verso: lower left, grey wash, the last 2 letters in monogram: "TMWT [?]"; lower right edge, graphite, hard to read: "Ligt Grey Bra[...]". Mount (removed, now in object file), Recto: graphite, Leonard G. Duke's hand: "D658/ JS Cotman 1782-1842. / The Tower of Arkinlow. This drawing was probably made by Cotman in 1800 when / he stayed at Bristol with Cottle the bookseller, who had Recently published Southey's poem. / On June 5, 1802 Cotman was president for the evening of the Drawing Society and set / the same subject - see plate 7 in S.D. Kitson's Life of J.S. Cotman. / LGD / Cotman later based his drawing of Château Gaillard (1818) in the Tate Gallery on this compositio. / My friend, Nigel Warren of Bristol, suggests that Cotman probably obtained his idea for this composition from the / Avon Gorge at Bristol, where an old windmill still stands in the position of the tower on the right.". Mount (removed, now in object file), Verso: graphite: "D658/ / 117/ / 31".

Label: Mount (removed, now in object file), Recto: printed and written in pen and black ballpoint: "19/2/87 / SOTHEBY'S / 101"; a pink square with date stamped: "14 OCT 198[7?]"; typewritten, right side printed with business address of FRY Water-colours and Drawings, London: "JOHN SELL COTMAN (1782-1842) / L.G. Duke's Note [that line added in graphite] / "The Tower of Arkinlow" / Probably drawn by Cotman in 1800 when he / stayed at Bristol with Cottle the book- / seller, who had recently published Southey's / poems. On June 5th 1802, Cotman was / President for the evening of the Drawing / Society and set the same subject; see S.D. Kitson 'Life of Cotman' pl.7. / Ex collection: L.G.Duke, C.B.E.".