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Bath Abbey

Oil on canvas
Painted 1790-1800 (Butlin & Joll 549)

Although this work is no longer considered to be by JMW Turner it is of interest by association with the lost oil 'The Country Waggon'. Both appeared in the R. Hall McCormick 15th April 1920 sale catalogue.

The provenance of 'Bath Abbey' was examined in Butlin and Joll No. 549. Entries before 15th April 1920 were disregarded. 'Bath Abbey' was bought by Scott and Fowles from the McCormick sale. There is a small possibility that Scott and Fowles also bought 'The Country Waggon' but no record of such a purchase has been found. Scott and Fowles sold 'Bath Abbey' to Knoedler in May 1920 with two other purchases from the McCormick sale.

It is clear that from May 1920 'Bath Abbey' and 'The Country Waggon' were separated

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McCormick Sale to 'Scott and Fowles' .

At the McCormick sale of 15th April 1920 'Bath Abbey' was bought by Scott and Fowles.

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'Scott and Fowles' and 'Knoedler & Co.' .

At the McCormick sale of 15th April 1920 'Bath Abbey' was bought by Scott and Fowles.

In May 1920, 'Bath Abbey' was sold to Knoedler as a work by J.M.W. Turner. To establish whether 'The Country Waggon' had also been purchased by Scott and Fowles and sold on to Knoedler the following searches were made:

  • Knoedler Stockbook No. 6 (Dec 1911 - July 1920)
    Online Archive of California.
    Entries in stockbook No. 6 from January 1920 to July 1920 were examined. The sale of 'Bath Abbey' was found in image 261. No sale was found for 'The Country Waggon'
  • Knoedler (and others) exhibition Catalogues at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
    Online records for catalogues dated 1920 and later were examined; there were no exhibitions of 'Bath Abbey' or 'The Country Waggon'. [www.metmuseum.org/art/libraries-and-research-centers-thomas-j-watson-library]

The conlusion was that it cannot be certain that Scott and Fowles did not buy 'The Country Waggon' but it is certain that they did not sell it to Knoedler. By May 1920 'Bath Abbey' and 'The Country Waggon' were separated.

Image 261 from Knoedler Stockbook No. 6

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