Lot Essay
When William Turner came to London in about 1804, his namesake J.M.W. Turner, R.A. (1775-1851) was well on the road to success. William, born in Oxford, thus became known as 'Turner of Oxford'. In London he took up lodgings with John Varley and became the first of many artists to be apprenticed to the master. William Turner flourished at an astounding rate, becoming a full member of the Old Watercolour Society at the age of 18. In 1812, however, he returned to Oxford, where he was to stay for the rest of his life, continuing to exhibit as a country member of the Society.
William Turner's love for accuracy of topographical detail led to titles such as that for the present watercolour, one of the longest entered in an O.W.S. catalogue. He painted the area surrounding Edgehill on a number of occasions, exhibiting a view of the Malvern Hills at the O.W.S. in 1811, (no. 48) and a view from the opposite direction to the present watercolour View near Tysoe Windmill, Warwickshire looking over the Village of Tysoe towards Edge Hill, and the Field of Battle, Showery Day, which he sold to the Reverend H. Bull at the O.W.S. exhibition in 1851 (no. 88).
This watercolour was Turner's major contribution to the O.W.S. exhibition in 1850. It came into the possession of Provost Phelps of Oriel College at a later date. Phelps was the largest lender to the 1895 University Galleries exhibition of William Turner's work with 19 watercolours. His watercolours were dispersed at a sale at the Provost's Lodge, Oriel College, Oxford, on 2 October 1929, and it is possible that it was at this date that the present watercolour left his collection.
This view from Edgehill, Warwickshire, displays many of the typical features of Turner's work: the low horizon, viewed from a vantage point above an expanse of flat country side where the 'blest shepherd on the turf reclines' (as described in a verse, possibly by Mrs. Hemans, used by Turner in many of his titles; see M. Hardie, 'William Turner of Oxford', Old Watercolour Society's Club, Annual, vol. IX, 1931-32, p. 4).
Edgehill was the scene of the famous first battle of the Civil War, fought between the parliamentarians under the Earl of Essex and the royalists led by Charles I and Prince Rupert, on 23 October 1643.
A sketch for the present watercolour is in the Leeds City Art Gallery. The composition is almost identical, but the shepherd in the foreground is standing (Acc. no. 9.911/49).
Another watercolour by the artist, View from Bow Hill on the South Downs near Chichester, from the celebrated Newall Collection, was sold at Christie's London, 13 December 1979, lot 79 (£28,600).
William Turner's love for accuracy of topographical detail led to titles such as that for the present watercolour, one of the longest entered in an O.W.S. catalogue. He painted the area surrounding Edgehill on a number of occasions, exhibiting a view of the Malvern Hills at the O.W.S. in 1811, (no. 48) and a view from the opposite direction to the present watercolour View near Tysoe Windmill, Warwickshire looking over the Village of Tysoe towards Edge Hill, and the Field of Battle, Showery Day, which he sold to the Reverend H. Bull at the O.W.S. exhibition in 1851 (no. 88).
This watercolour was Turner's major contribution to the O.W.S. exhibition in 1850. It came into the possession of Provost Phelps of Oriel College at a later date. Phelps was the largest lender to the 1895 University Galleries exhibition of William Turner's work with 19 watercolours. His watercolours were dispersed at a sale at the Provost's Lodge, Oriel College, Oxford, on 2 October 1929, and it is possible that it was at this date that the present watercolour left his collection.
This view from Edgehill, Warwickshire, displays many of the typical features of Turner's work: the low horizon, viewed from a vantage point above an expanse of flat country side where the 'blest shepherd on the turf reclines' (as described in a verse, possibly by Mrs. Hemans, used by Turner in many of his titles; see M. Hardie, 'William Turner of Oxford', Old Watercolour Society's Club, Annual, vol. IX, 1931-32, p. 4).
Edgehill was the scene of the famous first battle of the Civil War, fought between the parliamentarians under the Earl of Essex and the royalists led by Charles I and Prince Rupert, on 23 October 1643.
A sketch for the present watercolour is in the Leeds City Art Gallery. The composition is almost identical, but the shepherd in the foreground is standing (Acc. no. 9.911/49).
Another watercolour by the artist, View from Bow Hill on the South Downs near Chichester, from the celebrated Newall Collection, was sold at Christie's London, 13 December 1979, lot 79 (£28,600).