Richard Parkes Bonington (Nottingham 1802-1828 London)

The distant tower is probably that of the Abbey of St-Bertin at St Omer, of which there is a pencil study at Bowood House, Wiltshire. Noon notes, (op. cit., p. 33) that, as mentioned in his letter to Madame Perrier dated 3 December 1824, Bonington and Colin intended to visit Dunkerque on their return from London to France the following year. The St Omer artist Jules Jouets also claimed that they worked briefly in that town along with Françia, Delacroix and Isabey in mid to late August 1825.