A Ruined Bridge

A Ruined Bridge
A Ruined Bridge
A Ruined Bridge
Royal Academy of Arts, London
title=Credit line
Artist
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) and later intervention
Title
A Ruined Bridge
Date
By 1757 with later additions
Medium
Graphite and grey wash with white highlights on cream laid paper
Dimensions
Metric: 168 x 235 mm
Imperial: 6 5/8 x 9 1/4 in.
Wilson Online Reference
D379
Description
A distant tower on a hill is seen through the arch of a ruined bridge with massive keystones and much associated foliage. In front of it to the left a monk or friar is seated on a boulder and a woman stands next to him
Provenance
William Esdaile
Signature/inscription
Inscribed upper right, pencil: Wilson; lower right corner: WE
Collectors' marks
[1] Lower right corner, pen: William Esdaile (Lugt 2617)
Critical commentary
Solkin has noted that the wash technique is not one normally used by Wilson and suggested that the original graphite drawing dates from his Italian period while the wash has been added by a later artist.
From one of 16 volumes of Royal Academy Annual Exhibition catalogues that were collected and extra-illustrated by the lawyer and antiquarian, Edward Basil Jupp, FSA (1812-1877), spanning the period from the first exhibition in 1769 to 1875. Jupp added drawings, prints, letters and autographs by, or referring to, Academicians and other exhibitors. Many of the drawings were bought from art sales during the 1860s.
Previous Cat/Ref Nos
PL007566