Lot 419
Samuel Prout, O.W.S. (Devon 1783-1852 London)
A view of Dresden, Germany
Closed11 December 2009
Price Realised
GBP 3,000
More Information
Specialist note
A journalist in the Somerset House Gazette said 'There are some views of towns, and some river scenes, of large dimensions, by Mr Prout, which, for pictorial character, originality of effect, depth of town, and general energy of style, excell all his former works, and may be regarded as wonders in watercolours' (E. Hardcastle, Somerset House Gazette, 2, 1824, pp. 477-8).
Ruskin himself described the present watercolour as 'an exquisite drawing, and most curious in the entire contrast and calming down of Prout's usual broken touch into Renaissance smoothness. It is the best existing representation of the old town...' (J. Ruskin, Notes on Samuel Prout and William Hunt, 1880, p. 60 (reprinted in E.T. Cook and A. Wedderburn, Works, 1904, vol. XIV, p. 419).
A pencil drawing of the same scene was sold at Sotheby's, 22 March 2005, lot 107.
Ruskin himself described the present watercolour as 'an exquisite drawing, and most curious in the entire contrast and calming down of Prout's usual broken touch into Renaissance smoothness. It is the best existing representation of the old town...' (J. Ruskin, Notes on Samuel Prout and William Hunt, 1880, p. 60 (reprinted in E.T. Cook and A. Wedderburn, Works, 1904, vol. XIV, p. 419).
A pencil drawing of the same scene was sold at Sotheby's, 22 March 2005, lot 107.