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    The Thames near Marble Hill, Twickenham

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    The Thames near Marble Hill, Twickenham
    The Thames near Marble Hill, Twickenham
    The Thames near Marble Hill, Twickenham
    Private Collection, England
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    Artist
    Studio of Wilson
    Title
    The Thames near Marble Hill, Twickenham
    Date
    Undated
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    Metric: 50 x 74 cm
    Imperial: 19 5/8 x 29 1/8 in.
    Collection
    Private Collection, England
    Wilson Online Reference
    P89E
    Description
    The view is taken from the south side of the Thames near Petersham and shows the prospect upstream towards Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, with the pediment of Marble Hill House visible through the trees to the right. In the foreground a man is leaning against a tree, watching his companion bathing, with another swimmer seated next to him. To their left a laden barge is sailing downstream while two horses and a rider head in the opposite direction on the near bank. A man and woman are sitting before a wall under trees in the left middle ground, and in the sky the afternoon sun breaks through fleecy clouds, which are reflected in the water.
    Provenance
    Sotheby's London, 12 April 1995 (78)
    Signature/inscription
    Unsigned; no inscription
    Techniques and materials
    The trees are frothy and not painted onto reserves while the figures to the right are globulous and rather crude. There are no birds in the sky. The background figures are quite well articulated, but the blue of the sky is pasty, thin and broad-brushed, suggesting overpaint and the facture of the clouds seems later. In the left foreground the flowers seem over-detailed and some of the colours are post-1800. The parallel strips of light outlining the tree-trunk at the left are uncharacteristic. The junction of the trees and sky, especially to the left, is opaque and rather unsure. The water of the river is imprecise and sludgy. Overall the effect of the picture is colourful but not limpid.
    Subject
    The Thames at Twickenham was a fashionable location, which had attracted painters from the 1720s. The region had come to acquire an elevated status by the third quarter of the 18th century from the presence and publications of Alexander Pope, who made Twickenham his home from 1719 until his death in 1744 and was much involved in the planning of the gardens at Marble Hill. As a Palladian villa, Marble Hill House could claim kinship with both the great Venetian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio (1508-80) and the architectural heritage of ancient Rome. Later Sir Joshua Reynolds was amongst those who lived in the area.
    Related Prints
    E72/31 Thomas Hastings after Wilson, On the Thames, The British Museum (1854,0708.88)
    Versions
    See 'Links' tab
    Related Works by Other Artists
    Peter Tillemans (c.1684-1734), View of the Thames at Twickenham, c.1720-25, Richmond upon Thames Borough Art Collection, Orleans House, London
    Critical commentary
    The large number of versions confirms this as one of Wilson's most popular English subjects. Twelve copies dating from the 18th and 19th centuries have also been identified.
    More Information
    Marble Hill House was built for Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk and mistress of King George II. Roger Morris oversaw the construction of the house, which was completed in 1729. It was later occupied by Mrs Fitzherbert, mistress and morganatic wife of King George IV.
    Condition/Conservation
    Relined. Coarse weave canvas is showing through. The frame is rococo-style carved wood with gesso veneer.
    Updated by Compiler
    2021-03-23 00:00:00

    Work of Art

    Prints

    • Thomas Hastings after Wilson, On the Thames., The British Museum

    Versions

    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) View on the Thames near Twickenham, Marble Hill House, English Heritage, Marble Hill House, London
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782)and later intervention, View on the Thames near Twickenham, Marble Hill House, Private Collection, England
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) The Thames near Marble Hill, Twickenham, Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) The Thames near Marble Hill, Twickenham, Private Collection, England
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) The Thames near Marble Hill, Twickenham, Tate, London
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) View on the Thames near Twickenham, Private Collection, England

    Biographies

    • Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk (1688-1767)
    • Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
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