Explanatory Index
COLLECTORS
Explanatory
Index
SIR WILLIAM RICHARD DRAKE (1817-1890)
Sir William Richard Drake is well documented on the internet as a British solicitor born in 1817 and died 2nd September 1890. [Probate Record]. 'The Country Waggon, Snowdon - early morning' was in his possession when died in 1890 (age 73) [Christie 1891-06-27 Lot 88] and it seems reasonable to investigate the possibility that he also had 'The Rising Squall - Hot Wells from St. Vincent's Rock, Bristol' since these two pictures had been together since they were painted and auctioned together in 1864 [Christie's 9th July]. It was not found in Drake' possession during his lifetime. It was not found in his executor's sale or in the possession of any of his descendants:
The conclusion is that Sir William Richard Drake did not own 'The Rising Squall - Hot Wells from St. Vincent's Rock, Bristol'.
The notes below were made during the course of the investigation and are retained for reference:
Addresses where the picture may have been 'put away' and forgotten
Drake had a London home address, 12, Prince's Gardens, London SW7 (London International Exhibition 1874 page 122, Lady Drake; 1885 Websters, page 430) and a country address at Oatlands Lodge, Weybridge, Surrey. His business addresses are listed in Kelly's 1891 where his entry reads 'solicitor, see Bircham & Co'. Bircham's entry reads, 'solicitors, 46 Parliament St. SW, 50 Old Broad St. E.C. & Waterloo Station S.E'. It was not practicable to obtain a print of these entries. 12 Prince's Gardens is now part of Imperial College's Garden Hall. I emailed Imperial 1/4/2020 to find out if Drake's House has been the subject of recent house clearance activities which could have been the source of 'Squall at St. Vincent's Rock, Bristol. (The e-mails were not followed up because it was discovered that Nos. 8 & 9 were undergoing restoration in 2019 but not No.12). Oatlands Lodge is on a map said to be 1888-1913 at archiuk.com but seems to have since been demolished.
His wife, Dame Katherine Stewart Forbes-Drake died 1880, and interred at their mausoleum in Brockwood Pales, Woking Surrey.
Other onward destinations for the picture
During the examination of the 1891 catalogue there was one picture that, as it were, stood out. On the first page lots 1 to 5 are pictures without artist's names.Of these the very first (lot 1) is 'A Rocky Coast Scene'. It was (indeed all five unidentified pictures were) bought by Smith.
At least one JMW Turner watercolour (The Rye House) descended to Mrs E.K. Hornsby-Drake maybe 'The Rising Squall' did too.
What follows are basically rough notes on Drake's collection - the collection was extensive and it will take a while to complete this page
Drake's executor sales were:
Later sales where Drake appears in the provenance
Christie sale 1915-05-14
Christie sale 1912-03-23
Exhibitions to which Drake contributed:
His collection from the 1891 catalogue (Sold 1891-06-27)
Unknown; A Rocky Coast Scene; oil
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 1; buyer: Smith
Unknown; A Landscape with a shepherd and sheep; oil
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 2; buyer: Smith
Unknown; An Angel; after Raphael; oil; and
Unknown; A Youth; oil; a pair
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 3; buyer: Smith
Modern Italian; Brigands and Captives; oil
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 4; buyer: Smith
Modern Italian, Figures; a sketch (probably in oil)
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 5; buyer: Smith
Boddington H.J.; On the Thames - evening;
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 6
Boldini G.; A Peep into Ferrara; oil
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 7
Boldini G.; A Peep into Ferrara; sketch for the picture
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 8
Brooking, C; A Seapiece, with fishing boats, calm;
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 9
Collins W.,RA; The two disciples at Emmaus;
sold 1891-06-27; lot 10
Graves Vol1; 1845 April 26; lot 62; Disciples at Emmaus; seller:
George Knott; buyer: Farrant, £152/5/-
Redford; 1845; The Disciples at Emmaus; seller: Geo. Knott; buyer:
Farrant, £152/5/-
Graves Vol1; 1860 May 26; lot 801; Disciples at Emmaus; from Sir M.
W. Ridley collection; seller: none; buyer: none, no price
Comments: Drake did not own this picture before 1845 (when Drake was
28). He could have bought it from Farrant after 1845 and could be the 1860
seller with the picture being bought in but it is more likely that Drake
aquired this picture at or after the 26th May 1860 sale.
Collins W, RA; Study of Heads, for the picture of Christ at Emmaus
sold 1891-06-27; lot 11
Constable J, RA, Dedham Lock - a sketch
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 12, buyer: Wigzell
Constable J, RA, A Landscape - a sketch
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 13
Constable J, RA, The Hay-wain - sketch for the picture in the National
Gallery
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 14, buyer: Wigzell
Constable J, RA, View on the Stour - Willy Lot's house
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 15
Cook R, RA,The Melancholy Jaques
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 16
Cooper T S, RA; A Landscape with Cows and Sheep
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 17
Corti G; An Interior with Cavaliers Drinking
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 18
Costa C; A Lake Scene with man in punt
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 19
Costa C; View in an Italian Town
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 20
Creswick T, RA; A Wayside Inn, Derbyshire
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 21; buyer: Polak
Crome J; Mousehold Heath, with windmill and figures;
exh. Leeds 1868 No.1147 as Landscape with Boats and Windmill, lent by
Sir W R Drake
exh. British Institution (entry not found)
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 22
Crome J B, On the Bure, Yarmouth
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 23
Crome J B, Back of the Mills, Norwich
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 24
Baron Denon; Visit of Baron Denon to an Egyptian Temple
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 25
William Etty, RA; Mercy Interceding for the Vanquished;
sold 1891-06-27; LOT 26; buyer; Shepherd (maybe 5.5gns)
other transactions: Graves ; Redford ;
@GRAVES Vol1; 1851 June 13th; Christie's; lot98; seller: Hogarth; as
'Mercy Interceding'; buyer: Grundy, £598/10/-
@REDFORD 1851; as 'The Combat'; oil; 132" x 100"; no
seller/buyer but £595/10/- and footnote:
(c) Called also “ Mercy Pleading for the Vanquished,”
painted and exhd. R. 1844; bought then by John Martin the painter. Etty
asked £2500. It was afterwards bought by the Royal Scottish Academy,
and, with four other of his largest works, placed in the National Gallery
of Scotland.
@GRAVES; 1855 April 26; Phillips; seller: Hooper and Wass. lot 69;
The Combat; Copy finished by Etty; no buyer/seller
@REDFORD 1864; Mercy Interceding; Sketch. £6/6 seller:W.
Russell, Exors.buyer none
Comments: cannot be the picture, more likely the sketch.
William Etty, RA
Youth at the Prow and Pleasure at the Helm; study for the picture;
sold 1891-06-27; lot 27; bought Shepherd (maybe 6½ gns)
1849; Graves; 23rd June; Christies; lot 99; as 'Youth at the Helm';
sketch; seller: G.T. Andrews; bought in £84 ?
1849; Redford; as 'Youth at the Helm and Pleasure at the Prow;
sketch'; seller N.N; buyer: Andrews, £84/-/-
1851; Graves; 31st May; Christies; lot 98; as 'Youth at the Helm';
study; seller: G.T. Andrews; buyer: De Gray, £136/10/-
1851; Redford; as 'Youth at the Helm and Pleasure at the Prow; sketch
for pict in National Gallery'; seller: G.T. Andrews; buyer: none, £136/-/-
1874; Graves; 10th May; Christies; lot 64; 'Youth at the Prow'
seller: John Famworth; buyer: Muirhead, £42/-/-
Comments:
Figures on the left of catalogue (6½) may not be the price;
earler lots marked up as for example lot 1 " 12/- ".
Transactions up to 1851 could be the Drake picture and bought from De
Gray.
Fortin, C; A Cottage with Children
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 28; buyer Agnew
Fraser, A; Feeding the Chickens
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 29
M Haughton; Head of Christ;
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 30
Haughton does not appear in Graves or Redford
G.E.Hicks; The Haymaker
sold 1891-06-27; lot 31
Hicks does not appear in Graves and very few entries (not this) in
Redford
Hixon, JP
sold 1891-06-27; lot 32
Hogarth, W
sold 1891-06-27; lot 33
Hogarth, W
sold 1891-06-27; lot 34
Holland, J; A Canal Scene, Venice; oil, 1852
sold 1891-06-27; lot 35; buyer Agnew
Holland, J; A Canal Scene, Venice; oil, 1852
sold 1891-06-27; lot 36
Holland, J; A Canal Scene, Venice - circle ; oil, 1847
sold 1891-06-27; lot 37; buyer Permain, 96gn
Holland, J; Verona; oil, 1838; painted for GJ Morant
sold 1891-06-27; lot 38; buyer Agnew
Hulk, A; A Coast Scene, calm: Evening
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 39
Hulk, A; A Dutch River Scene
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 40; buyer Costa
Hunt, W; Pomegranate, Grapes and a Basket; purchased from the artist's
executor
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 41
Ibbotson J C (sic); A Road Scene with Travellers
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 42
Jutsum, H; A Study of Buckhurst Park
Sold 1891-06-27; lot 43
JMW Turner;
Snowdon,
from Moel Madoc; oil, 1799; purchased from Bishop Nixon of Tasmania
for whom it was painted
sold 1891-06-27; lot 88
Comments:
The
Country Waggon
JMW Turner; View on
the Dee; watercolour-drawing, w x h: 8.75" x 5.75";
signed: Turner;
sold 1891-06-27 lot 289; Drawing
Looking for previous transactions: Graves no; Redford no;
@BURLINGTON; 1871, June 1; p74; No. 234; River Scene, View on the
Dee; Formerly in the collection of the Rev. Mr. Nixon, one of Turner's
earliest patrons; Drawing; w x h: 8.75" x 5.75"; lent by: Sir
William Drake
Christies 24th and 25th May 1892. This from references from 'The Morgan Library and Museum'
Information so far gathered relates to just two works and these are the only evidence for this sale. These references are currently held as paper copy under 'Drake'.
Jacob van Strij (1756-1815); Farm in Winter; drawing 9" x 13.5"
sold 1892-05-24; lot 395; one of three as 'River Scene, winter, and
the companion, etc.'; buyer Charles Fairfax Murray, £6/-/-
Jan Wijk (1640-1702); Cavalry Battling Turks; 6" x 8.5";
drawing
sold 1892-05-24; lot 384; as Wyck JA 'Battle Piece' buyer: Charles
Fairfax Murray, £0/7/-
Christies 7th January 1893 - Remaining Drake Property
Three engravings
sold 1893-01-07; lot 69;
Unknown Artist; Portrait of Sir Francis Drake
sold 1893-01-07; lot 70;
Unknown Artist; Portrait of an Artist
sold 1893-01-07; lot 71;
Venetian School; Portrait of a Gentleman
sold 1893-01-07; lot 72;
Florentine School; Portrait of a Young Lady
sold 1893-01-07; lot 73;
Roberts (crossed out); Venice
sold 1893-01-07; lot 74;
Gabrini; Banditti with Captives
sold 1893-01-07; lot 75;
Sir AW Callcott RA; Milton Dictating to his Daughters; 1840
sold 1893-01-07; lot 76;
Wouvermans; A Camp Scene
sold 1893-01-07; lot 77;
Tintoretto; Portrait of a Lady; and Portrait of a Gentleman; a pair,
circles
sold 1893-01-07; lot 78;
Watteau de Lille; La Partie Champètre;
sold 1893-01-07; lot 79;
Mignard; Madame de Villaret; from Versailles
sold 1893-01-07; lot 80;
Domenichino; Innocence
sold 1893-01-07; lot 81;
Drake's collection from other sources
noteably Burlington
Exhibitions
JMW Turner; 'King
John's Palace, Eltham'
C.F.Bell: p25 'King John's Palace,
Eltham'
JMW Turner; View on
the Dee; watercolour-drawing, w x h: 8.75" x 5.75";
signed: Turner;
@BURLINGTON; 1871, June 1; p74; No. 234; River Scene, View on the
Dee; Formerly in the collection of the Rev. Mr. Nixon, one of Turner's
earliest patrons; Drawing; w x h: 8.75" x 5.75"; lent by: Sir
William Drake
William Anderson (1757-1837)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; A Naval Engagement; 253; w x h: 14.5" x 9";
signed W Anderson 1797 (maybe oil) AND a companion drawing also signed and
dated
This could be 'The capture of Port St. Louis, Martinique'
Not in the 1891 sale
Benjamin Barker (1776-1838)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; Landscape, Road Scene. Man and Horse, with seated
Figure in foreground; medium unknown; w x h: 20.5" x 15";
Not in the 1891 sale
George Barrett c.1774-1842
@BURLINGTON; 1871; View Near Kenwood; No. 182; 7.25"x 5.5";
Drawing
Lot 170 in the 1891 sale
Henry William Bunbury (1750-1811)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; No.152; Landscape, with Figures and Dog in
foreground; 19.25" x 13.75; Drawn by W. H. Bunbury, Esq.,1786
Not in the 1891 sale
Edward Dayes (1763-1804)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; No. 149; Tinturn Abbey on the Wye, with Ferry
Boat; 17" x 12.75"; signed: Edward Dayes, 1795; Drawing; exh RA
1795
Not in the 1891 sale
Thomas Heaphy (1776-1835)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; No. 150; Landscape with Water and Trees in the
foreground; 13.75 x 9.75"
Not in the 1891 sale
Robert Hills (1769-1844)
@BURLINGTON, 1871; No. 165; Farmyard, Men threshing in a barn, with
cattle in foreground, and horses and wagons entering the yard; w x h: 16.5"
x 12";
Not in the 1891 sale
William Henry Hunt (1790-1864)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; No.173; Interior of gallery at cashiobury; w x h:
9.75" x 11; made for Earl of Essex
A Hunt drawing in 1891 lot 233 - 'A Boy, reading' possibly
Julius Caesar Ibbetson (1759-1817)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; No.126; The Departure; 15.75" x 11.75";
Not in the 1891 sale
Francis Nicholson (1753-1844)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; No. 258; Bridge over the mountain torrent, between
Llanrwst and Penmachno, North Wales; 17" x 12.75"
possibly lot 250 in the 1891 sale as 'Waterfall at Haudran,
Wensleydale
William Payne (of Plymouth) (alive 1786)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; Four Landscapes each 6.75" x 5";
Swansea, Lidford, Usk, Wye
Not in the 1891 sale
William Henry Pyne (1770-1845)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; Sir Cloudesley Shovel's House, at Rochester; 11.25"
x 8"
lot 259 in the 1891 sale
David Roberts (1796-1864)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; The tower of the comares, the fortress of the
Alhambra; 11.75" x 16.75"
Lot 270 in the 1891 sale
David Roberts (1796-1864)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; Gate of the Vivarrambla, Granada; w x h: 10.75"
x 14"
Not in the 1891 sale
George Robertson (c.1742-1788)
@BURLINGTON; 1871; Cascade at Terni; 21.5" x 14"
Not in the 1891 sale
JMW Turner; The
Rye House; watercolour-drawing, 10.75" x 7.5";
@BURLINGTON; 1871; The Rye House; 10.75" x 7.5";
Comments: said to be 1793 (wikipedia! giving tate as a reference)
artnet calls it 'View of the Gatehouse at Rye House, Hertfordshire'
(practically the same size)
Not in the 1891 sale
Auction Sothebys 19 November 1987 lot 94 (c.1793 confirmed)
(USD20,000): Sir William Drake; by descent to Mrs EK Hornsby-Drake - sale
London Christies 11 march 1932 lot 69 one of a pair, (to Boot, 12gns);
1932 is in the christies daybook but not this sale. location confirmed by
sothebys - Hoddeston, Stansted, Hertfordshire
Francis Wheatly RA (1747-1802)
@BURLINGTON 1871; p82 No.47; Landscape With Church Spire 19.25 x 14.5
Not in the 1891 sale
@BURLINGTON; 1875; Thomas Girtin 'Old Mill, North Wales' No. 48 p18; 20.5 x 12.75"
Burlington 1879, Works of Charles Méryon
The Cow and the Young Ass; Engraved; from collection of M. Burty
Burlington 1879
Qu' Ame Pure Rougisse; engraved?
Burlington 1879
Passerelle du pont au Change aprés l'Incendie de 1621; engraved
Burlington 1879, 106
Burlington 1884
Harry Willson; Outer wall of Forum of Nerva; watercolour, 11.25" x
15
Burlington 1884, No.4
Bartlett, WH; Exterior of Town Hall, Ghent; drawing, 6.5" x 9"
Burlington 1884, No. 56
Thomas Malton; Great Court, Somerset Place; watercolour, 12" x 8.5"
Burlington 1884, No. 64
Thomas Malton; North side of the Great Court, Somerset Place;
watercolour, 12" x 8.5"
Burlington 1884, No. 66
Joseph Nash; Library at Morton College; Oxford; 1861; watercolour, 11"
x 13"
Burlington 1884, No.69
Frederick MacKenzie; West Doorway of Rochester Cathedral; watercolour 7"
x 5.5"
Burlington 1884, No. 73
George Shepherd; Church of St. Clement Danes, London; 1814; watercolour,
5.25" x 8.5"
Burlington 1884, No. 85
George Shepherd; Church of St. Martin's in the Fields, London; 1815;
watercolour, 5.25" x 7.75"
Burlington 1884, No. 86
Frederick MacKenzie; Interior of the church of St. Stephen, Wallbrook;
watercolour 4.75" x 6.75"
Burlington 1884, No. 91
Samuel Austin; Old Church, Malvern Wells; watercolour, 11" x 8½"
Burlington 1884, No.98
Lake Price; Interior of the Choir of the Frari, Venice; watercolour, 17¼
x 13½; 1820
Burlington 1884, No. 135
Samuel Prout; Houses in Cologne; pencil 7" x 10"
Burlington 1884, No. 139
Note to include a link to Christie sale 1902-05-12
Penry Williams; Christie sale 1902-05-12, lot 429; Altar of the Madonna del Sazzo; Given by the artist to Sir T Lawrence; from Sir WR Drake coll
Note to include a link to Christie sale 1912-03-23
B. Cariani; at christie 1912-3-23; Portrait of a Gentleman of The Scaliges Family; bought from Drake by Sir William James Farrer in 1891
French School; at christie 1912-3-23; A Betrothal (long deascription); bought from Drake by Charles Lock Eastlake in 1891
Note to include a link to Christie sale 1915-05-14 and 1912-03-23
Unknown Artist at christie sale 1915-05-14, 14; Portrait of a gentleman in dark dress and cap, holding his gloves; oil on panel; round 3.5" diam; bought from Drake by Thomas Watson Jackson in 1891
Corneille de lyon; at christie sale 1915-05-14, 23; Portrait of a gentleman (Cardinal in Chatellon?) in blackdress with small white frills and black hat; oil on panel; round 4.75" diam; bought from Drake by Thomas Watson Jackson in 1891; exh Burlington
Italian School; at christie sale 1915-05-14, 34; Head of Giovanni Bellini with Black Cap;oil on panel; bought from Drake by Thomas Watson Jackson in 1891; pair with Head of a Franciscan Monk;
Italian School; at christie sale 1915-05-14, 34; Head of a Franciscan Monk;oil on copper; bought from Drake by Thomas Watson Jackson in 1891; pair with Head of Giovanni Bellini with Black Cap;
J. Signorini; at christie sale 1915-05-14, 50; (Two) Views of Florence; each 7.75" x 20.25; oil; bought from Drake by Thomas Watson Jackson in 1891
London International Exhibition of 1874 page 3, west galleries, room VI;
Constable 'oil sketch' Lent by Sir William Drake
On the River Stour - oil sketch
Denham Lock - study for the picture
Leeds 1868 No.1271, Dobson W (1610-1646) Portrait of Sir C Lucas, lent by Sir W R Drake
@@@@@
London International Exhibition 1874
5053 Lady Drake was resident at 12 Prince's Gardens in 1874
