SPECIFIC IDENTIFICATIONS

HUSKINSONS UNSOLD PAINTINGS FROM CHRISTIE'S SALE OF 27th APRIL 1864

At Christie's sale of 27th April 1864 a collection belonging to Leonard Huskinson (known as Huskisson) was auctioned as 'Property of a Gentleman'. Lots 89 to 95 were bought in.

Here is a list of them:

Lot 89 JMW TURNER RA Remains of Waltham Abbey, Essex. Exhibited 1796

Lot 90 JMW TURNER RA View on the river Avon, near St. Vincent's Rock, Bristol. Exhibited 1793

Lot 91 JMW TURNER RA Battle of the Nile, the L'Orient blown up. Exhibited 1799

Lot 92 SIR E. LANDSEER Repose. The picture was purchased at the sale of his sister's (Mrs. McKenzie's) effects.

Lot 93 W. COLLINS, RA A fisherman's boy. Very fine.

Lot 94 W. COLLINS, RA A coast scene, with boats and figures

Lot 95 W. COLLINS, RA A waggon and horses

We have established that Turner's 'Battle of the Nile' was with Thomas Woolner some time between 1864 and 1875. Whereas Butlin & Joll are doubtful about the authenticity of Huskinson's 'Battle of the Nile' we have established a case for it being the large (nearly 4' x 6') picture exhibited at the RA (Butlin & Joll have left out many of the references particularly the Farebrother sale [see below]). Woolner's picture was indeed this one.

'Battle of the Nile' was amongst the items bought in at the sale so Huskinson appears to have sold it to Woolner after the sale and it is possible that Woolner bought the other unsold items as well.

A Farebrother sale catalogue of 13th July 1882 page 32 (Cox) shows that 'Battle Of The Nile' was in the posession of Thomas Woolner before Cox. This would be sometime between 1864 and 1875.

There were two executor sales of Woolner's collection in 1895 both by Christie's: 18th May 1895 page 20 and 21st May 1895 and no works from Huskinson's collection appear in these catalogues.

There was a Christie's sale of over 160 works from Thomas Woolner's collection held on 12th June 1875. The catalogue is missing; we have made a partial reconstruction: Christies 1875-06-12. The reconstruction includes details from, inter alia, our list of Sales of Turner's Works (based on Graves), our list of Graves Art Sales, Artists H to V and The Art Journal 1875 page 343 col. 3which shows Woolner's sale as taking place on 19th June1875 and mentions that there were some 160 paintings sold. No works from Huskinson's collection appears in this sale.