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    The Weir on the Po (Figures by a Waterfall)

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    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
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    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
    WGC/1/1/110
    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

    Work of Art

    Versions

    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) 'The Weir on the Po' ('Landscape with Waterfall') , Niedersächsischen Landesmuseums, Hannover, Germany
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) A Weir on the River Po near Ferrara, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
    • Ascribed to Wilson, The Falls of Tivoli (The Weir on the Po), Private Collection, England
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) A View on the River Po near Ferrara (Figures by a Waterfall), Magdalen College, Oxford

    Biographies

    • Sir George Beaumont (1753-1827)

    Documents

    • William George Constable, Richard Wilson
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