THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH (BRITISH, 1727-1788) 'SCENE NEAR THE ROC...

Hammer

£11,000

THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH (BRITISH, 1727-1788)
'SCENE NEAR THE ROCKS', COLERNE
black chalk and pencil on paper, verso bears old exhibition label
31cm x 27cm 

PROVENANCE: Phyliss Down - Phyliss was born in 1902 and lived in Abbots Leigh close to the Clifton Suspension Bridge; her great passions included collecting paintings, china and furniture which she bought mainly from antiques shops and house clearance sales in and around the Bristol area.

When Phyliss died in the 1980's, part of her collection was inherited by her son Thomas O'Hara who shared her love of pictures, together with his wife Ros, they bought mainly watercolours from the David Cross Gallery in Clifton. They would both attend open evenings at the gallery, and when things went well on the dairy farm they would purchase something that took their fancy.

NOTE: this drawing dates from the late 1750's, it's quirkiness is something that Gainsborough was enjoying around that time period. The tower acts like a broken pot, with a flourishing tree inside. 
For similar examples with a prominent tree (seen in this drawing), see: British Museum No. Oo.27 (Hayes 122); Courtauld Institute RW 2369 (Hayes 131); Also a drawing now in  the Museum of Shenandoah Vally, Winchester Virginia (Hayes 133).

More Information

Some slight yellowing and visible as paper has slipped in the frame, exposing a lighter area. Some very minor foxing spots, most notable on the lower left, just above the mount. One corner of the mount has a water mark. Frame generally good with some typical losses to the gesso.