LEITCH, William Leighton

b: 1804

d: 1883

William Leighton Leitch appears in the provenance of Turner's B1975.4.1764(Yale/Mellon) 'Old Gate Of Canterbury'. Leitch had posession of at the time of his death. It was auctioned, 1884, March 17th, Christies; there is an entry in Graves and a reference in the Yale/Mellon provenance.(note: The Berthon sale of May 15th 1891 similarly; there is an entry in Graves and a reference in the Yale/Mellon provenance.) Interest in his collection revolves around the relationship between 'Old Gate Of Canterbury' and the larger (probable) exhibition watercolour, 'Gate of St. Augustine's Monastery, Canterbury ' (exh. RA 1793). Leitch clearly cannot be the first owner of 'Old Gate Of Canterbury' and it is therefore necessary to attempt to trace his aquisition of the watercolour. We do not know yet whether he aquired by purchase or inheritance and at this stage (April 2020) we do not have record of any purchases by him. His collection was extensive and there are various references to gifts by artists to him.

William Leighton Leitch was born in Glasgow. He moved to London in 1826, toured Europe, and then from 1837 he lived in St. John's Wood, London (sourced from various undocumented internet searches).
..The move to London was in 1826 when he was 22 years old. We do not know whether this was a family move or him moving out from the family. Either way by 22 he could have developed an interest in collecting and brought paintings from Scotland with him. He may have travelled between London and Scotland (to visit family?) after the move and therefore may have aquired 'Old Gate Of Canterbury' in Scotland.
..Rev. Robert Nixon moved to Kenmure Castle, Kirkcudbright, Scotland in1828 this is a possible source of 'Old Gate Of Canterbury' because Rev. Robert Nixon, formerly of Foots Cray, Kent definitely owned 'The Country Waggon' and 'The Rising Squall' (both oils) at this time. Rev. Robert Nixon died c.1837 which gives a period of nine years for such a transaction to take place. Much of this time Leitch was touring Europe and the extent of his contact with London and Scotland is unknown; it would place considerable restraint on the probability of an aquistion from Rev. Robert Nixon.
.. However, first ownership of 'Old Gate of Canterbury' is likely to be found in Turner's return journey from Margate or Canterbury in September 1792 (the journey during which canvas was purchased in Rochester). If 'Old Gate Of Canterbury' was completed before Turner arrived in Rochester (where he became distracted by painting oil on canvas) then there are three more likely places that maybe became its first 'home'; viz: Margate, Canterbury, Rochester.
..If 'Old Gate Of Canterbury' was not aquired in Scotland then it was probably bought in London after 1926 and even more likely after 1837 when Leitch was aged 33.

Having considered the various possible origins of 'Old Gate Of Canterbury' it seems more likely that this (the smaller of the St. Augustine's Gate watercolours) would have been given to the Rev. James Douglas in September 1792 and that if Nixon was in possession of a St. Augustine's Gate watercolour it would have been the larger exhibited version.

Leitch did not lend to Burlington Fine Art Watercolour Exhibition of 1871. Searches of earlier Burlington exhibitions (from 1868) gave no results for Leitch or 'Old Gate of Canterbury'.

@GRAVES; 1884,Mar. 17,Christie's; W. L. Leitch. (273 T.) 904. Old Gate of Canterbury. Drawing ,W. W.,16,16,0,

Yale, Mellon as 'Old Gate Of Canterbury' ...Height: ? ...Width: ? ...Provenance: (?) In the possession of W.L.Leitch ......................1884, March 17th, Christie's, Lot 904; as 'Old Gate at Canterbury'; Seller (Leitch); Bought by W.W. ......................GAP ......................1891, May 15th; Christie's; Lot 121; Sold by Berthon; Bought by Nathan ......................GAP ......................THEN Seller unknown; Bought by Agnew ......................1971, March; Sold by Agnew; Bought by Paul Mellon

British Institution 1845, Works of British Artists; 'Landscape, a recollection of early days'; 48"x65"; No 119; page 11, by W L Leitch, and exhibited by him;