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Lot Essay
This newly identified watercolour by John Robert Cozens relates to two sketches, one at the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester (D.1975.4.3) and the other at the Yale Center for British Art (B1977.14.4566). The Whitworth drawing is part of one of the seven surviving sketchbooks Cozens filled on his 1782-3 journey to Italy with William Beckford. These sketches formed the basis of many of the rich watercolours Cozens produced for Beckford both during the journey and on his return, as well as watercolours executed for other patrons. The Yale sketch is a tracing of the Whitworth sheet, part of the Beaumont Album. This album contains 215 drawings, and was in the family of Sir George Beaumont from around the time of Cozens’s death until 1967. Whilst some of the sheets are original drawings, many are traced from other drawings, particularly the Beckford sketchbooks.
The Beckford sketchbooks provide an extraordinary record of Cozens’s journey across Europe to Italy in 1782-3 with the eccentric and spoiled William Beckford, 'England's wealthiest son' (1760-1844). It was Cozens’ second journey across the Alps: the first, in 1776-1779, was in the entourage of Richard Payne Knight (1751-1824). Beckford was an established patron of Alexander Cozens, and his patronage of John Robert, Alexander's son, followed naturally from that. He had commissioned Italian views from him before they set out together in May 1782. 'He cannot make too many,' Beckford wrote to Alexander, 'Having seen Italy I value them more than ever if that be possible.'
Cozens began drawing in earnest when they reached the 'entrance to the Tyrol', as he inscribed his first sketch, dated 4 June 1782. The sketch which the present watercolour relates to is dated 5 June 1782, and so is one of the earliest of the trip.
The present watercolour is undated, but is a later working of the subject, rather than one produced for Beckford, and is the only known watercolour relating to this sketch.
We are grateful to Kim Sloan for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.
The Beckford sketchbooks provide an extraordinary record of Cozens’s journey across Europe to Italy in 1782-3 with the eccentric and spoiled William Beckford, 'England's wealthiest son' (1760-1844). It was Cozens’ second journey across the Alps: the first, in 1776-1779, was in the entourage of Richard Payne Knight (1751-1824). Beckford was an established patron of Alexander Cozens, and his patronage of John Robert, Alexander's son, followed naturally from that. He had commissioned Italian views from him before they set out together in May 1782. 'He cannot make too many,' Beckford wrote to Alexander, 'Having seen Italy I value them more than ever if that be possible.'
Cozens began drawing in earnest when they reached the 'entrance to the Tyrol', as he inscribed his first sketch, dated 4 June 1782. The sketch which the present watercolour relates to is dated 5 June 1782, and so is one of the earliest of the trip.
The present watercolour is undated, but is a later working of the subject, rather than one produced for Beckford, and is the only known watercolour relating to this sketch.
We are grateful to Kim Sloan for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.