The Weir on the Po (Figures by a Waterfall)

This item is active and ready to use
The Weir on the Po (Figures by a Waterfall)
The Weir on the Po (Figures by a Waterfall)
The Weir on the Po (Figures by a Waterfall)
Collection of Richard L. Feigen
title=Credit line
Artist
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782)
Title
The Weir on the Po (Figures by a Waterfall)
Date
c.1766 (undated)
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Metric: 24.1 cm diameter
Imperial: 9 1/2 in. diameter
Collection
Private Collection, London
Wilson Online Reference
P197B
Exhibited
[1] Bristol City Museum and Gallery, Treasures from West Country Collections, 1967 (18);
[2] Cape Town, South African National Gallery Old Masters from a Private Collection, 1975 (43)
Provenance
Col. Maurice Harold Grant (1872-1962); Dr Robert E. Hemphill, 505 Dolphin Place, Wynberg, Cape Town; Christie's London 13 July 1984 (71); Anon., Christie's London, 21 November 1986 (56); Richard L. Feigen, New York; Dreweatts, Pall Mall, London, 2 July 2025 (30); Private Collection, London.
Signature/inscription
Unsigned, no inscription
Labels
[1] Printed label: Martinspeed Ltd | 7 GLASSHOUSE WALK, SE11 | Telephone 071-735 0566. Ms: REF 2348 | Feigen | New York
[2] Printed sale room label with barcode: 516098-160
[3] Feigen printed/typed label with ref. no. 17559-C
[4] South African National Gallery exhibition printed/ms label: Old Masters from a Private Collection | FILE NO. | 4/188 | RECEIPT NO. 2972 | LENT BY Dr R.E. Hemphill | ADDRESS 505 Dolphin Place, Wynberg | Tel 77 41 35
Subject
W.G. Constable noted that the locality of the view is uncertain. If the river is the Po, the surrounding country is quite unlike that near Ferrara or along the greater part of the Po valley. There is no evidence that Wilson ever went to Turin or nearer the source of the river, where there are hills.
Versions
See 'Links' tab
Critical commentary
At least six painted versions are known, plus two drawings. The titles of all the versions derive from the inscription on the back of P197 (Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford). They seem to be based on the composition of A Waterfall by Gaspard Dughet, then owned by the dealer and collector Dr Robert Bragge (1700-1777), engraved by Lois Granville (fl. 1741-1757) in reverse and published by Knapton in 1741. P197B and other versions are examples of only three authentic painted roundel compositions by Wilson and as Anne French has noted, suggest that he had a particular prototype in mind. (The others are the larger P18 & P19 presented to the Foundling Hospital in 1746). While in Italy, however, he made a few smaller circular drawings, e.g. D242 Pastoral Landscape with Tower, Rijkmuseum Amsterdam.
Bibliography
Bury 1947; WGC, p. 211, pl. 98a (perhaps version 3 or 4); A. French, Gaspard Dughet called Gaspard Poussin 1615-75, exh. cat., Kenwood, London, 1980, pp. 88-89 (73); Solkin 1981, p. 414, n. 21.
Link to WG Constable Archive Record
Condition/Conservation
Mounted in wooden and gesso gilded frame with back board. Drewatts' Condition Report: The canvas has been lined, although the reverse is not available for inspection due to an applied backboard. Fine craquelure throughout however the paint surface appears stable. Some light undulation to the canvas, which probably occurred during the lining process. Rubbing and abrasion to the framing edges. Inspection under UV light reveals some scattered retouching and in-filling throughout, however this has been sensitively done.
Updated by Compiler
2025-06-30 00:00:00