A diplomat and collector, Clarke served in the embassies in Turkey, France, Austria, the agency in Cairo, and at Buenos Aires, Stockholm and Budapest. In London he lived at 40 Portman Square, W.1. He is known to have owned several paintings by or attributed to Wilson including:
P62 View of Castel Gandolfo and Lake Albano, Private Collection, England
P65A The Temple of Clitumnus , Private Collection, Italy
P122C Lake Avernus - I, Private Collection, Wales
