Study of a Barn
Maker
1769-1844
Title
Study of a Barn
Date of Production
1820s
Medium
graphite, watercolour
Accession Number
D.2023.ST.5
Mode of Acquisition
The Spooner Charitable Trust, gift, 2023
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
Not currently on display
Label Text
Robert Hills (1769-1844) trained at the Royal Academy from 1788 and specialised in rural subjects, particularly farm animals. A watercolourist and etcher, he was one of the six founding members of the Old Watercolour Society in 1804; he exhibited some 600 works there over the course of his career. His talent at rendering animals was such that he was known to draw animals in works by other artists, including George Barret the younger and George Fennell Robson.
On this well-preserved watercolour, Hills annotated in his shorthand the lower right corner and the roof of the barn; both inscriptions have yet to be deciphered. It is one of several drawings by Hills that represent barns; another example is in the Tate’s collection (N04323), while a drawing in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge (inv. 1369) bears a similar shorthand inscription.
On this well-preserved watercolour, Hills annotated in his shorthand the lower right corner and the roof of the barn; both inscriptions have yet to be deciphered. It is one of several drawings by Hills that represent barns; another example is in the Tate’s collection (N04323), while a drawing in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge (inv. 1369) bears a similar shorthand inscription.
Provenance
Guy Peppiatt; where purchased by the Spooner Trust; Gift of the Spooner Trust, 2023
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