February 2021

JMW TURNER

Porch of Great Malvern Abbey, Worcestershire

WATERCOLOUR

This watercolour-drawing is of interest because it was an RA exhibit of 1794. ( RA Exhibition 1794 No.336 in the Antique Academy). It was not marked (for disposal) by asterisk in the catalogue. Finding out the first owner might help with solving the provenance of 'View on the river Avon, near St. Vincent's Rock, Bristol'. At a first glance 'Porch of Great Malvern Abbey, Worcestershire' appeared to be the watercolour-drawing in the Whitworth which we shall call here the 'Whitworth Worthington Porch' and this may well be so. However, over the course of one year, more information has gradually accumulated and much of it is in conflict.

The 1794 exhibit was one of a pair of views of Malvern Abbey [Christies 2016-07-05, lot essay para. 4], "The pendant to the work exhibited in 1794 seems to have been the work aquired by the Whitworth...". This is the work aquired by the Whitworth, note the log at centre-right:

• 'Porch of Great Malvern Abbey, Worcestershire' (Turner's title for the 1794 exhibit) [Image supplied by Whitworth] which is undoubtedly the .Porch' and is undoubtedly the work donated by Mrs. Worthington. Note the presence of a log at centre-right.
• We do not have an image of its companion but we do know, from the Christie's lot essay, that they were paired; one being a porch and the companion being a bell-tower:

The Ashton family were in possession of a pair. One was a porch and the other was a bell-tower. This is evident from the [Christies 2016-07-05, lot essay para. 4]. The Ashton's ownership of one of these, and thus the pair, is recorded in Armstrong in 1902 page 265.

• The Porch as 'View of Great Malvern Abbey, Worcestershire' sold by Christies on 2016-07-05 [Image from the online sale catalogue]. Note the absence of the log that appears in the Worthington version.
• 'The Priory from the Gatehouse looking back eastwards towards the bell-tower', as shown in Christie's 2016-07-15 lot essay, which from an image in Wilton ('JMW Turner - His Art and Life') is definitely the bell-tower and not the porch. [Image from Wilton p306, No.50 'Ashton Tower']

From the above it can be seen that there were at least two pairs. Here are thumbnail images for comparison (3 pixels per mm):

Pair 1: 'Whitworth Worthington Porch' & a Tower currently unlocated (Which Christie's lot essay suggests is the 1794 exhibit - but it cannot be because the exhibit was a 'Porch')

...

Pair 2. 'Christie Ashton Porch' & 'Wilton Ashton Tower' (described in Christie's lot essay and said by Wilton to be the Ashton version.)

...

Given Provenances

For each of the four finished watercolour drawings various sources provide provenances. However, none of these provenances are complete. We have added a few details such as full names of owners, their dates of birth and death and their addresses if known. Since some sources quote dimensions in inches and others in mm we have shown both. [Table of Provenances]

Whitworth Worthington Porch

Housed in the University of Manchester's Whitworth Art Gallery 'Porch of Great Malvern Abbey, Worcestershire' is said by the gallery curators to be the 1794 exhibit [by exchange of e-mails] [by Andrew Wilton 'JMW Turner - His Art and Life' page 306 No.49]
The provenance supplied by Whitworth states that the first owner that they know of was John Heugh (1811-1877). Heugh started his collection around 1845 and therefore there is a gap of at least 51 years in the Whitworth provenance which we have added. Otherwise, all the entries (with a minor difference in the exact date of the Foster sale) are consistent and the dimensions are exact as measured by the curators.

Whitworth Gallery as 'Porch of Great Malvern Abbey, Worcestershire' Exhibited RA 1794
...Height: 321mm; 12.63" (12 5/8")
...Width: 424mm; 16.69" (16 11/16")

• 1794 RA Exhibition
• 1794 Unknown for 51 years (or more)
• 18?? Acquisition by John Heugh (1811-1877) who started his collection in 1845
• 1862 Sold by John Heugh of Holmewood, Tunbridge Wells, Kent and 12or13 Upper Brook St., Kensington;
  at Foster's sale of 16th June 1862 (asco 26842 (1) 26842 (2), 11th); buyer: Agnew.
• 1862 Sold by Agnew's to buyer: J. Smith of Mickleham Hall, Surrey
• 1870 Sold by J. Smith; Christie's sale of 4th May 1870 [asco 32006]; buyer: Agnew
• 1870 Sold by Agnew's to buyer: James Worthington (died 1887)
• 1887 by Descent to Mary Worthington (of Sale Lodge reference to be added page 284 Ada S Ballin Woomanhood)
• 1904 by Bequest from Mary Worthington to the Whitworth.
• 2020 Whitworth are in possession

Malvern Abbey Armstrong's Pair

'Armstrong's Pair' are, in fact, not a pair because one is an Ashton and the other is a Worthington. [Armstrong page 265]
Armstrong's description (written around 1902) of the Ashton is a description of a 'Tower'. Ashton had a 'Porch' and a 'Tower' in 1902. However, the exhibit was a 'Porch' (according to Turner's title) so Armstrong's suggestion that the Ashton 'Tower' is the exhibit must be wrong. (Wilton's catalogue includes the Ashton 'Tower' at No. 50 and gives dimensions 12½ x 16½; Christies give the dimensions of the Ashton 'Porch' as 12 5/8" x 16¾".) Armstrong put the date of painting as 1795 (but nonetheless suggests it could be the 1794 exhibit)
The Worthington 'Porch' described by Armstrong has the wrong size quoted. Neither of the 'Porch' paintings fits Armstrong's 12" x 16½ description. The Worthington 'Porch' is 12 5/8" x 16 11/16". Armstrong does not see the Worthington as the exhibit; he puts the date of painting at 1797.

• 'Malvern Abbey c.1795 (?)RA 1794 (signed W Turner) [Mrs Ashton]
• Height: 12.5"; The quoted size matches the Whitworth exhibit exactly but possession by Mrs Ashton does not.
• Width: 16.5"
• 1794 Exhibited RA.
• 1794 to 1902 unspecified
• 1902 In the possession of Mrs Ashton.

• 'Malvern Abbey c.1797 [Mrs. Worthington]
• 'Late Gothic gate of abbey, mountains to right (this is a description of the Whitworth Worthington Porch; Armstrong must have recorded the size incorrectly).
• Height: 12" (but this is the watercolour in the Whitworth and known to be 12 5/8" x 16 11/16")
• Width: 16.5"
• 1797 the supposed date painted to 1902; unspecified
• 1902 In the possession of Mrs Worthington.

C.F.Bell; 'Porch of Great Malvern Abbey, Worcestershire' Exhibited 1794

C F Bell does not specify the dimensions. [C F Bell page 27] He quotes a note from Christie's sale of 2nd July 1888 [asco 47549] [lots 78&79]. According to C.F.Bell the sale of 1888 was a pair of watercolours of Malvern one of which was the 1794 exhibit. This pair had been bought in 1794 by ' T'. Norris (probably 'J', John Norris (1774-1845)) who inscribed details of the transactions on one of them, "I purchased this and another, of a carver and gilder in London about the year 1794, who told me he had them of young artist in payment of some picture frames. T. Norris, Hughenden Manor, Bucks". We have included this transaction in C F Bell's provenance.
Norris's pair, would be likely to be a Porch and a Tower and cannot be the Worthington pair because Norris's pair were sold in 1888 when Worthington had already owned his 'Porch' for eighteen years.

Note that C F Bell's provenance (written around 1901) is therefore a muddle but effectively states that the Porch from the Norris pair was the exhibit. Even if incorrect about the identity of the exhibit we can be confident that C F Bell's information tells us that the Norris pair does not include the Worthington Porch and therefore must be the Ashton pair (or possibly another, unknown pair).

• 1794 RA No.336
• 1794 Bought by a Carver and Gilder from JMW Turner (in exchange for frames)
• 1794 sold by a Carver and Gilder in London to buyer: T. Norris (probably John Norris) of Hughenden Manor, Bucks.
• There is a gap in C F Bell's provenance here.
• 1859 sale seller: R. Chambers; buyer Gambart, £21 [asco 24778, asco extracts, 1859-03-29] (sold as 'Porch' ... 'with figures' therefore the Worthington)
• There is another gap in C F Bell's provenance here.
• 1870 sale, seller J. Smith; buyer: Agnew, £56/14/- ;
  but this transaction is definitely the Worthington 'Porch' and does not belong in the same provenance as the Norris Porch
• 1888 sale July 2nd 1888; seller: (from the Smith sale C F Bell has Agnews); buyer: ? Lord Beauchamp (Cannot be the Worthington 'Porch' because Worthington bought his Porch in 1870.)

The 1859 R. Chambers sale; buyer Gambart could be the Norris (Ashton) pair as C F Bell suggests but as there is a gap either side of it may not belong to the Norris (Ashton) provenance.[Christie's 29th March 1859 asco 24778].

Christie's 2016-07-05 The Ashton Pair, the 'Tower' being Wilton No. 50

No early provenance

• Christie's lot essay does not give a date of painting but suggests that the Ashton Porch was a 'repeat' and 'made to order'
• Before 1902 - no details given by Christie.
• 1902, by implication in the lot essay, the Ashton Porch was one of a pair in the possession of Ashton which can be dated to 1902 (or before) because in 1902 Armstrong lists the 'Tower' in the possession of Mrs Ashton
• before 1970 Christie's lot essay states that the Ashton Tower was sold. Wilton gives details: seller: Mrs Ashton; buyer: Mrs P W Kessler.
• 1970 The Tower was sold; Sotheby, 19th November 1970, lot 107; seller Mrs P W Kessler; buyer: Agnew; (source Wilton)
• 1994 The 'Tower' was sold; Christie, 12 April 1994; lot 53; (source: Christie)
• 1994 Following Ashton's 1970 sale of the 'Tower', the 'Porch' remained with the Ashtons.
• The 'Porch' was sold at Christies 2016-07-05

Absent frrom the lot essay was any mention of inscriptions other than signed: 'Turner'.

Wilton No. 49, The Worthington Porch

This is the provenance exactly as provided by Wilton No. 49:

• R Chambers
• J Smith
• William Leaf
• Earl Beauchamp
• Mrs Mary Worthington bequest of 1904
• Whitworth Art Gallery

Next we have added some known dates with the Wilton information in green:

• R Chambers [asco 1859-03-29; Christie] Chambers's sale. [asco 24778, asco extracts, 1859-03-29] (sold as 'Porch' ... 'with figures' therefore the Worthington; buyer Gambart given by CF Bell.)
• J Smith 1870 Sold by J. Smith; Christie's sale of 4th May 1870 [asco 32006]; buyer: Agnew
• William Leaf [W Leaf file] born 1791; died 1874; sale 1875 (This is Christie 1875-05-06 (3 days) asco 35642)
• Earl Beauchamp [Beauchamp] 1876-07-17
• Mrs Mary Worthington bequest of 1904 1870 Sold by Agnew's to buyer: James Worthington (died 1887); then by descent to Mary Worthington.
• Whitworth Art Gallery 1904 by Bequest from Mary Worthington to the Whitworth.

Entries for William Leaf, 1875 and Earl Beauchamp, 1876 must be misplaced becasuse the succession from J Smith and James Worthington 1870 to the present time is not in doubt. So these can be plced in their own list and we know that the Leaf sale was a 'Tower'. We also know that this Tower appeared at auction in 1869:

• 1869 asco 31024 (1) Lot 60; A View of MALVERN, from the churchyard'
• William Leaf [W Leaf file] born 1791; died 1874; sale 1875 (This is Christie 1875-05-06 (3 days) asco 35642)
• Earl Beauchamp [Beauchamp] 1876-07-17

Which leaves the revised Wilton provenance for the exhibited (Worthington) Porch as:

• R Chambers [asco 1859-03-29; Christie] Chambers's sale. [asco 24778, asco extracts, 1859-03-29] (SEE BELOW sold as 'Porch' ... 'with figures' therefore (according to Wilton) the Worthington; buyer Gambart given by CF Bell.)
• There is a gap here where, inter alia, John Heugh's purchase (between 1859? & 1862) and sale (1862) and Smith's purchase of 1862 are placed. However, three years seems too short a time interval for these transactions
• J Smith 1870 Sold by J. Smith; Christie's sale of 4th May 1870 [asco 32006]; buyer: Agnew
• Mrs Mary Worthington bequest of 1904 1870 Sold by Agnew's to buyer: James Worthington (died 1887); then by descent to Mary Worthington.
• Whitworth Art Gallery 1904 by Bequest from Mary Worthington to the Whitworth.

The Chambers Sale 1859-03-29

R Chambers [asco 1859-03-29; Christie] Chambers's sale. [asco 24778, asco extracts, buyer Gambart given by CF Bell.

The actual title in the catalogue is 'Porch of Great Malvern Church with Figures'. Whilst this could be the Abbey it could also be the Church on the Malvern side (ie not the side on which Turner painted the Beacon). There is only one Malvern picture in this sale so it is not the Norris pair. It could be the splitting up of the original pair. If bought by Gambart the painting could have gone to France.

Both 'Abbey' and 'Priory' were used for the Porch and Belltower drawings but 'Church' was used for the church with either the Beacon or Malvern in the distance.

This drawing cannot definitively be the Worthington and as it originated with CF Bell it is unreliable - There is no doubt that the sale took place but there is no positive identification and the 'Church' is wrong for the Worthington, its pendant and the Norris pair.

ASCO 31024; 1869-02-27 Different Properties

The asco index asco 31024 (1) shows the machine read (inaccurate) text which appears to be 'J.M.W. TURNER R.A., Lot 60; A View of MALVERN, from the churchyard' The reference to Nixon in the next lot is a coincidence and nothing to do with our Nixon family. This Malvern is 'from the churchyard' and is therefore a 'Tower' [sale not recorded in Redford]. However, - 'from the churchyard' could also indicate that it is a 'Beacon' see Armstrong/Robinson. From the other side of the church (see Beacon in Newport Gallery) the town may be visible - there is a painting D00671 Tate which may be this view although not this sale. Wilton page 325, No. 233 refers to the Robinson watercolour (254mm x 356mm)

In February 1869 the Worthington Porch was in the possession of J Smith. In 1888 the 'Norris' (probably Ashton) pair were sold as a pair [lots 78&79, 'Different Properties']. So this 1869 sale, if it is a 'Tower' would be the pendant to the Worthington Porch and therefore the 'Leaf Tower' (sold 1875)

The Heugh sale of the Worthington Porch [1862-06-11, asco 26842 (1)] did not include its pendant; the Chambers sale [asco 24778, asco extracts 1859-03-29] likewise was the Worthington Porch alone so they became separated before 1859.

The William Leaf Sale of 1875... The Leaf Tower

William Leaf (1791-1874)

@GRAVES; 1875,May 7,Christie's,William Leaf,378.Great Malvern Priory. Drawing,Agnew,157,10,0, (This is Christie 1875-05-06 (3 days) asco 35642). Cannot be the Worthington Porch due to the date conflict. Cannot be the Ashton/Norris pair because it is not a pair

@REDFORD; 1875; seller: Leaf; as 'Great Malvern Abbey'; Drawing; 12.5"x 16.5"; Agnew £157; the first 'Malvern' entry for 1875 (second is the Quilter sale of 'Malvern' but Quilter was in April, Leaf was in May)
This puts the 12.5x16.5 with Agnew in 1875.
However, it is not marked up as a pair which one would expect from C.F.Bell's observation of the 1888 sale.

This, William Leaf sale in 1875 Could be the pendant to the Worthington Porch. (a Tower)

ASCO 31024; 1869-02-27 Different Properties (above) could also be the pendant to the Worthington Porch (a Tower)

So the Worthington Porch and the Leaf Tower were separated before 1859

• 1859 The Chambers sale of the Worthington Porch alone which shows that it was separated form the Leaf Tower at this time
• 1869 The ASCO 31024; 1869-02-27 sale of the Leaf Tower (before Leaf owned it)
• 1875 (May 7th) The Leaf Tower was sold in Leaf's Executor's sale (£157)

William Quilter also sold a 'Tower' in 1875, April 9th, (£840) this was the said c.1830 copy owned by Benjamin Godfrey Windus in 1833; Wilton No.834 page 397. Windus could have sold it, inter alia, in 1842 or 1853 neither of which appear in Redford.

probably these drawings

In 1870 Worthington already had his 'Porch'

In 1888 the Norris (probably Ashton) pair were together

The Windus Tower (not being a Porch and Tower Pair)

The William Quilter Sale of 9th April 1875
Not a Porch or a Tower from a pair but a later copy of the Tower (Wilton says 'derived from')
Armstrong 'Malvern Abbey and Gate' from Quilter/Windus c.1830
No size specified in Armstrong

@GRAVES; 1875,April 9,Christie's,William Quilter,246. Malvern. Drawing. E. and W.,Agnew,840,0,0, (just 'Malvern' - it does not appear to be a pair)
@REDFORD; 1875; as 'Malvern'; Drawing; buyer blank (Agnew above); the second entry for 1875
@CHRISTIE CATALOGUE 1875, April 8th; ditto marked up
This is the Armstrong 'Malvern Abbey and Gate' from Quilter/Windus c.1830 - see Armstrong page 265 below

Armstrong: Windus loan to Moon's Gallery Exhibition 1833 . Without doubt, Benjamin Godfrey Windus (1790-1867); 2 sales (of many) 1842-06-01 and 1853-06-20 (both Christie)

Wilton 834 page 397; 299mm x 428mm, 11¾" x 16¾". According to Wilton, now in the City Art Gallery Manchester (now = 1979); I have sent questions 2021-03-11. This is Wilton's provenance:

• 1833 Quilter/Windus Tower lent by Windus to Moon Gallery
• 1833 BG Windus.
• 1875 Christie 1875-04-09; Lot 246; Seller: W Quilter, Buyer: Agnew
• no date; ? John Heugh
• no date; ? Agnew
• 1877 W Thompson
• 1902 Agnew
• no date James Blair
• 1917 Bequeathed by James Blair to City Art Gallery, Manchester (1917.104)

Adding known dates etc.

• 1833 Quilter/Windus Tower lent by Windus to Moon Gallery
• 1833 BG Windus. (1790-1867)
• 1875 Christie 1875-04-09; Lot 246; Seller: W Quilter, Buyer: Agnew William Quilter (1808-1888)
• no date; ? John Heugh (1811-1877)
• no date; ? Agnew
• 1877 W Thompson
• 1902 Agnew
• no date James Blair
• 1917 Bequeathed by James Blair to City Art Gallery, Manchester (1917.104)

Other Malvern Titles (not being the Porch and Tower Pairs)

Malvern From The Church 10" x 14"

@GRAVES; 1880,Mar. 6,Christie's; C. J. Pooley. 126. Malvern from the Church. Drawing. 10 x 14 ,Bought in,51,9,0,

@GRAVES; 1898,Feb. 26,Christie's; "- 39. A Graveyard, Malvern. Drawing. 10 x 14",Gribble,35,14,0,

Others

@GRAVES; 1883,June 29,Christie's; Grundy and Smith. 9. Malvern. Drawing ,Bought in,13,13,0,

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@GRAVES; 1884,June 21,Christie's; Rev. C. G. Acworth. (291 T.) 96. Malvern Abbey and Gate. Drawing. ,Palser,90,6,0,
@REDFORD; ditto; £90/16/-
at this price it cannot be the Quilter/Windus c.1830 drawing. So this may not be in Armstrong. In 1884 the Worthington Porch was with Worthington, asco 44150, 1884-06-21.

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@GRAVES; 1890,June 7,Christie's; F.W.Grafton. 14. Great Malvern Abbey. Drawing.,—,94,10,0,

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'Malvern Abbey' Armstrong 16" x 18½" 'View of Malvern Beacon from the churchyard' 1798; in the collection of Sir Charles Robinson, CB (in 1902)

The Beacon painting(s) are not porches or towers but the hill beyond. - if 'from the churchyard' is included in the title it could be a 'Beacon'

There is a JMWT 'View of Malvern Beacon from the churchyard' in Newport Museum and Art Gallery but its aspect ratio is 14x20 so it cannot be this actual painting. Newport quotes date: 1794

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Image of the Whitworth Watercolour [2020] (Mrs Worthington's watercolour)

Image from the Whitworth, watercolour; 12.63"x16.69". Signed 'W. Turner'

The Armstrong (1795 exh RA 1794!) [Mrs. Ashton] description: "Late Gothic archway to right. Abbey tower in centre. Men sawing. Grey and green with little colour".

The Armstrong (1797) (not exh.) [Mrs. Worthington] description:"Late Gothic gate of Abbey. Mountains to right."

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Armstrong page 265 [published 1902]

@@@@@C.F. BELL [Published 1901]

Another Worthington reference in Armstrong Page 254 - Fonthill