COLLECTORS

Explanatory Timelines Names Index First Owners

Thomas Woolner (1825-1892)

His history is covered widely on the internet. He is of interest in the context of 'The Rising Squall hot wells, from St. Vincent's rock, Bristol' because another of JMW Turner's 1793 exhibits, 'View on the river Avon, near St. Vincent's Rock, Bristol' appeared together with two other Turners in a sale of 'The Property of a Gentleman' at Christie's on 27th April 1864. The 'Gentleman' was Leonard Huskinson, the artist, also known as Huskisson. The part of his collection auctioned (see below) included three JMW Turners which were bought in. These included the 'Battle of the Nile'. This picture was auctioned by Farebrother in 13th July 1882 (Cox Sale) where the catalogue, page 32, stated, "from the collection of Thos. Woolner Esq., RA". So 'Battle of the Nile' was in the posession of Huskinson in 1864, subsequently aquired by Woolner and later by Cox.

The primary purpose of examining Woolner's collection in detail is to look for evidence of the other paintings from Huskinson's collection. Particularly the 1793 exhibit, 'View on the river Avon, near St. Vincent's rock, Bristol '.

After the 1793 RA Exhibition, Rev. Robert Nixon took posession of 'The Rising Squall hot wells, from St. Vincent's rock, Bristol'. It is possible that he also, at the same time, aquired 'View on the river Avon, near St. Vincent's Rock, Bristol'. Evidence is sought to support or contradict this chain of succession. Only one weak item (supporting) is found to date:

• A watercolour called here 'The Bristiol Watercolor' was mistakely thought to be 'The Rising Squall' some time after 1925 and before 1979 and it's supposed provenance included the Rev. Robert Nixon. That provenance was wrong but may have been 'discovered' as a result of some knowledge that the Bristol Watercolour had, at some time, been in Nixon's collection. The researcher at that time merely chose the wrong auction and the wrong title to support the proposition and, incidentally, slightly misquoted the title to fit his conclusions.

As a secondary exercise any evidence of previous ownership by Rev. Robert Nixon is sought in Woolner's collection.

Huskinson's Collection (known from the sale of 27th April 1864)

• 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 [in posession of Woolner some time between c1864 and c1875; Farebrother]
• 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
• Lot 96 J. LINNELL, SEN Sheep in a landscape
• Lot 97 G. ROMNEY The Lady Hamilton. Very beautiful.
• Lot 98 E.W. FROST, ARA Samson and Delilah
• Lot 99 J. RIGAUD RA Cupid with bow and arrow
• Lot 100 D. MACLISE, RA A sketch of a man in armour
• Lot 101 H. HOWARD, RA The Infant Plato
• Lot 102 W. MÜLLER A Landscape

Lots 89 - 95 were bought in at the sale and it is these that may have been bought by Woolner.
Lot 92, 'Repose', has been traced to the present day but has no mention of early owners and is probably an Emma Landseer not a Sir Edwin.

Thomas Woolner (1825-1892)

Timeline of Woolner's Activities
This timeline includes only activities which relate to the purposes of this analysis.

Entering details on this list is a time consuming process and will take some time to complete

• 1862 Woolner moved from 27, Rutland St. to 29 Welbeck Street, Marylebone, London
• 1864 The earliest date for aquisition by Woolner of 'Battle of the Nile' [Farebrother]
• 1870 The latest date of aquisition of 'Battle of the Nile' if aquired directly from Huskinson who died this year.
• 1875 It is probable that 'Battle of the Nile' was sold to Cox before this year (because 'Battle of the Nile' was not sent to the 1875 sale)
• 1875 Woolner's sale at Christie's 12th-14th June 1875 [Reconstruction Prior to Obtaining Catalogue]
  This list is ordered by lot number, 141 lots:
  • 001 Sir E. Landseer RA after;
  • to be continued
  • lots 1 to 47 - no relevant references
  • 048 G Romney, 1784-1802; Portrait of a Gentleman
  • 049 G Romney; Portrait of a Lady
  • lots 50 to 53 - no relevant references
  • 054 John Laporte 17-- - 1889; Tivoli; (1761-1839)
  • lots 55 to 56 - no relevant references
  • 057 W. Collins; Donkeys Baiting; signed
  • lots 58 to 83 - no relevant references
  • 084 Sir Edwin Landseer RA, 1802-1878; Study of a Monkey and Looking Glass;
    Presented by the artist to the Re. F. J. Judkin
  • 085 Sir Edwin Landseer RA; Lord Willoughby and Sister; Study for a larger picture
  • lots 86 to 63 - no relevant references
  • 064 W Muller 1812-1845; Conham; A study in water-colour for this picture was exhibited in the Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1878; (not found in any Burlington catalogue)
  • lots 65 to 78 - no relevant references
  • 079 W Muller; A cottage and figures; signed and dated
  • 080 W Muller; Near Hanham, on the Avon; (Yale: B1981.25.470)
  • lots 81 to 88 - no relevant references
  • 089 Wm. Collins; Near the Vale of Health: a man sitting on a barrow
  • lots 90 to 92 - no relevant references
  • 093 JMW Turner RA
  • lots 93 to 99 are Turners but not relevant and no first owners mentioned
  • lots 100 to 112 - no relevant references
  • 113 Siur E. Landseer RA; Fallow Deer in Windsor Park
  • 114 John Jackson RA, 1778-1831; Portrait of Sir D Wilkie
  • 115 Wm. Collins; A Sea-view: sunset
  • 116 Wm. Collins; The Ferry
  • lots 117 to 129 - no relevant references
  • 130 JMW Turner RA; Kirkstall Abbey, on the Aire
  • 131 JMW Turner RA; Crichton Castle; ...exhibited Burlington House, 1875
  • lots 132 & 133 are Turners
  • lots 134 to 138 - no relevant references
  • 139 John Linnell; Evening: a hayfield in Derbyshire
  • 140 John Linnell, 1846; Hanson Foot, Dovedale
  • 141 John Linnell; The Last Gleam Before the Storm
• 1882 The latest date for both aquisition and disposal of 'Battle of the Nile'. This is the Farebrother sale by Cox.
• 1892 Woolner died on 7th October, age 66
• 1895 Woolner's executor sale Christies 18th May 1895
  Woolner's property starts on page 20 at lot 103:
  • 103 W. Mulready RA; Idle Boys
  • 104 John Sell Cotman; Off the Northumbrian Coast
  • 105 James Ward RA; A Royal Hart
  • 106 Géricault; A Race
  • lots 107 to 115 examined briefly with no relevant references found
• 1895 Woolner's executor sale Christies 21st May 1895
  • 001 J.F.Lewis RA; A River Scene: boys fishing
  • 002 J.F.Lewis RA; A Cock
  • 003 J. Varley; A Landscape, with castle on a hill
  • 004 T. Hearne; A Foreign view
  • 005 J. Smith (of Warwick); Coniston Water - oval
  • 006
  • lots 6 to 83 - a brief examination showed no relevant references
  • 083
  • 084 J.M.W.Turner RA; Study of the Lake Country
  • 085 J.M.W.Turner RA; Aberbrothwick Abbey
  • 086 J.M.W.Turner RA; Canterbury

In respect of 'Battle of the Nile':
Huskinson 1821-1870; Woolner 1825-1892, William Cox active 1861-1880, Joseph Prior of Trinity 1832-1918, Judge Bronson 1834-1917; Blakeslee Galleries; Edward Rathbone Bacon 1848-1915

Woolner purchases:
Purchases after 1875 are probably not of significant interest. These are all from Graves.
@GRAVES; 1875,Feb. 13,Christie's; Thomas Greenwood. 243. Near Genoa,Woolner,28,7,0,
@GRAVES; 1890,June 27,Christie's,Ayscough Fawkes,29. Hammerstein. Drawing. ,Woolner,126,0,0,
@GRAVES; 1890,June 27,Christie's; Ayscough Fawkes. 43. In Wharfedale—Rustic Bridge. Drawing.,Woolner,68,5,0,
"TURNER, J. M. W.",1892,April 8,Thomas & B.,,Birmingham. 119. Indiaman and two Fishing Boats. 18x13,Woolner,430,10,0,

"MULREADY, William",1884,Mar. 22,Christie's,,E.C.Potter. (217 T.) 37. Bathers. 18IX14,Woolner,105,0,0,