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Lot Essay
Influenced in his early career by the works of John Varley and Thomas Girtin, to whom he was introduced by Dr Thomas Monro, Peter de Wint soon developed a distinctive individual style. Many of his landscapes were painted in the countryside around Lincoln, although he also made summer sketching trips to the valleys of the Rivers Trent and Thames. The present watercolour, whose location has not been identified, is an intimate study of a copse of trees, exploring the changing tones of green among the leaves and the play of shadow and light. It is similar in composition to the Study of Trees in Ashstead Park, Surrey from the Bacon Collection.
Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth (1904-1980) was an enthusiastic champion of Peter de Wint's work, organising the monographic exhibition of the artist's work held at the Usher Art Gallery, Lincoln, in 1937. Many of his watercolours by Peter de Wint had been purchased from Miss Muriel Bostock (d. 1942), the companion of Peter de Wint's granddaughter, Miss Harriet Helen Tatlock (d. 1922), from whom she had inherited a number of the artist's works. Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth also, however, purchased some watercolours directly from de Wint, which may have been the case with the present drawing.
Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth (1904-1980) was an enthusiastic champion of Peter de Wint's work, organising the monographic exhibition of the artist's work held at the Usher Art Gallery, Lincoln, in 1937. Many of his watercolours by Peter de Wint had been purchased from Miss Muriel Bostock (d. 1942), the companion of Peter de Wint's granddaughter, Miss Harriet Helen Tatlock (d. 1922), from whom she had inherited a number of the artist's works. Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth also, however, purchased some watercolours directly from de Wint, which may have been the case with the present drawing.