Description
Brown washes over pencil heightened with stopping out
28.4 by 20 cm, 11 by 7 3/4 inches
This drawing is likely to have been commissioned from Rowbotham by the great Bristol collector and anitiquary George Weare Braikenridge (1775-1856) who purchased Broomwell House in Wick Road, Brislington in May 1823. Braikenridge’s collection of 1400 topographical views of Bristol and the surrounding area was commissioned from a number of local artists and includes 258 drawings by Rowbotham and others by Samuel Jackson, James Johnson and were bequeathed by one of his sons to Bristol City Art Gallery in 1908. He also commissioned over 100 drawings of Brislington alone in the mid 1820s, mainly from Rowbotham of which this is probably one. Another view of the Hermitage at Wick House is in the collection of the Bristol City Art Gallery (K4907).
Brislington is two miles south-east of Bristol city centre and was described as one of the prettiest villages in Somerset in the early 19th century. Wick House, built in circa 1790, was a villa that stood in sixty acres of pleasure grounds. `Jones’ views of the Seats, Mansions, Castles, & C. of Noblemen and Gentleman in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland’, published in 1829 includes Wick House and mentions `the Hermitage, in the midst of the shady grove, invites to musings and retirement.’ At the time it was the seat of William Withering (1775-1832) and it is now a retirement home.
Image Licence
All Rights Reserved
Image Credit
image © Guy Peppiatt Fine Art
Location
Wick House, Brislington, Bristol, England
Country
England
Tags
Category
Buildings & Architecture
