Live Auction 5934The Sunday Sale - The Collection of the Late Christopher Wood
Lot 39

Benjamin West, P.R.A. (1738-1820)

Study for the left hand of The Woman clothed with the Sun

Closed8 November 2009

Price Realised

GBP 1,187

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Benjamin West, P.R.A. (1738-1820)
Study for the left hand of The Woman clothed with the Sun
black and white chalk, on blue-grey paper
10 x 8½ in. (25.4 x 21.6 cm.)

The artist's family, and by descent to
Mrs. P.Howard; Sotheby's, London, 22 March 1979, [part] lot 9.

Specialist note

This study is related to the oil painting The Woman clothed with the Sun which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1798, no.232., and is now held at Princeton University Art Gallery. This painting illustrates a passage from Revelations XII and was one of four works commissioned by the novelist, art critic and politician William Beckford which were to be installed in the so-called 'Revelation Chamber' at Fonthill Abbey, where Beckford planned to place his own tomb.