Sir William Pilkington, View of the Tiber to the Left of Rome - Antique Drawing

Name: Sir William Pilkington, View of the Tiber to the Left of Rome - Antique Drawing
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1051522
Availability: SoldOut

19th century

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

This early 19th-century watercolour by British aristocrat Sir William Pilkington (1755-1850) depicts a picturesque view of the Tiber as seen from Monte Mario, the highest hill in Rome. It’s an idyllic sketch, probably completed during his Grand Tour.

Sir William Pilkington, 8th Baronet, was a keen amateur artist and a generous patron of the arts. He’s particularly known for his close association with JMW Turner (1775-1851) with whom he placed various commissions. In one of these, a hunting scene at Otley Chevin in West Yorkshire, Turner included him as the main figure. The original is currently in the Wallace Collection.

Pilkington was also a keen student of the techniques of others and mentioned in literature for his broad knowledge of Richard Wilson (1714-1782). It’s possible that he took lessons with Joseph Farington RA (1747-1821), one of Wilson’s pupils.

An obituary in the Art Journal (1850) described his acute mind. “Sir William had travelled much, with an observant eye and with most persevering research into all matters connected with the arts he loved. Those who were intimately acquainted with him will never forget his varied information, his intimate knowledge of the progress of Art during the last half century, and his happy elucidation of it by references to his own original sketches and his illustrated library of rare productions.”

Inscribed in the upper left, framed and glazed.

Learn more about Sir William Pilkington in our directory.

Medium: Pencil drawing with watercolour

Overall size: 17” x 14½” / 43cm x 37cm

Year of creation: c. 1800

Labels & Inscriptions: Inscribed with title in the top left. Notes from Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, attached to reverse.

Provenance: Thomas Agnew & Sons, London / Private collection, England.

Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. Minor discolouration and light speckling.

Physical Dimensions

Height

37cm (14.57")

Width

43cm (16.93")

Depth

2cm (0.79")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1800s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1051522

Description

Sir William Pilkington, 8th Baronet, was a keen amateur artist and a generous patron of the arts.

“

He’s particularly known for his close association with JMW Turner (1775-1851) with whom he placed various commissions.

Brave Fine Art

In one of these, a hunting scene at Otley Chevin in West Yorkshire, Turner included him as the main figure. The original is currently in the Wallace Collection.

fig 1. Sir William Pilkington, View Of The Tiber To The Left Of Rome - Antique Drawing — fig 1. Sir William Pilkington, View of the Tiber to the Left of Rome - Antique Drawing

Pilkington was also a keen student of the techniques of others and mentioned in literature for his broad knowledge of Richard Wilson (1714-1782). It’s possible that he took lessons with Joseph Farington RA (1747-1821), one of Wilson’s pupils.

fig 2. Sir William Pilkington, View Of The Tiber To The Left Of Rome - Antique Drawing — fig 2. Sir William Pilkington, View of the Tiber to the Left of Rome - Antique Drawing

An obituary in the Art Journal (1850) described his acute mind. “Sir William had travelled much, with an observant eye and with most persevering research into all matters connected with the arts he loved. Those who were intimately acquainted with him will never forget his varied information, his intimate knowledge of the progress of Art during the last half century, and his happy elucidation of it by references to his own original sketches and his illustrated library of rare productions.”