A willow by the Thames near Barnes

Copyright

Work in the public domain
Image: Courtauld

Maker

(artist)
1779-1853

Title

A willow by the Thames near Barnes

Date of Production

1810s

Medium

Pen and brown ink and watercolour over traces of graphite, with scratching out, on wove paper

Dimensions

Height: 14.3 cm
Width: 23.5 cm

Object Number

D.2026.MB.18

Mode of Acquisition

Michael Broughton, gift, 2026

Credit

Courtauld Gallery, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust). Michael Broughton bequest, 2026

Location

Not currently on display

Open IIIF manifest Open in IIIF viewer What is IIIF IIIF viewers

Label Text

Mary Smirke was an ambitious artist who drew prolifically. Many of her watercolours show a miniaturist's precision, but sometimes she worked in a looser, more graphic manner, as in this landscape depicting the Thames west of London - a favourite subject. She exhibited at the Royal Academy every year between 1809–1814, although she was sometimes hindered by her artist father, who was on the hanging committee. One year, dissatisfied with the placement of her work, he had it removed from the show altogether.

Inscriptions

Inscription: Inscribed, verso, "Q11" (upper right, graphite); "The Thames near Barnes - Mary Smirke. / 12 1/2 x 15 1/12 PM / 26" (upper centre, graphite); "69/154" (lower left, graphite)

Provenance

Andrew Wyld, London, 1973; Rosebery's, London, 20 March 2019, lot 140; Abbott & Holder, London, where acquired by Michael Broughton (1944-2026), Watford; Michael Broughton bequest, 2026

Exhibition History

A View of One's Own, Landscapes by British Women Artists, 1760-1860, Courtauld Gallery, London, 28/01/2026-20/05/2026

Information on this object may be incomplete and will be updated as research progresses. We are particularly committed to addressing any discriminatory or offensive language and ideas that may be present in our records.
We are also constantly working to digitise the collection and improve the quality of our digital resources; images will be added/updated as new photography becomes available.
To help improve this record and to enquire about images of the Courtauld Gallery Collection, please email gallery.collectionsonline@courtauld.ac.uk.

Find out more about using and licensing our images.

____________________________

Buy a print from our collection