Bickham Farm, near Withycombe

Description

Creator: Francis Towne (1739 - 1816)

Title(s)

Bickham Farm, near Withycombe

Date: 1785/10/01

Medium: Pencil, pen and grey and black inks, grey wash

Dimensions

image width 247mm,
image length 306mm

Support: irregular shape, on laid paper with watermark with shield, fleur de lis and "GR"

Inscription

sheet, verso
“Bickham Nr. Wythcombe / and Bryndon Hill to the right in the distance / Croidon Hill sun in the middle / Teambarscombe 9 O Clock Oct^r. 1^st 1785 / Near Honicote Somersetshire F.Towne N^o1”
in grey ink over pencil

Object Type: Monochrome wash

Collection

(13.206/53)

Catalogue Number: FT436

Description Sources: Examination; Witt Library (image)

Provenance

Bequeathed by the artist in 1816 to James White of Exeter (1744–1825), on whose death it passed to Towne’s residuary legatee John Herman Merivale (1779–1844) and his successors. Merivale’s granddaughters Maria Sophia Merivale (1853–1928) and Judith Ann Merivale (1860–1945), both of Oxford, inherited the drawing in May 1915 (BP195). In 1930 Judith Merivale sold it to Norman Darnton Lupton (1875–1953) of Hyde Crook, Dorchester, Dorset, for £27 10s. with five other drawings (FT320, FT371, FT375, FT544, FT597). Agnes Lupton (1874–1950) and Norman Lupton bequeathed it to the present owner, Leeds City Art Gallery (13.206/53).

Associated People & Organisations: Leeds City Art Gallery, Leeds, 1953, 13.206/53; Agnes Lupton (1874 - 1950), Dorchester, 1930, GBP 27 10s
Acquired with FT320, FT371, FT375, FT544 and FT597; Norman Darnton Lupton (1875 - 1953), Dorchester, 1930, GBP 27 10s
Acquired with FT320, FT371, FT375, FT544 and FT597; Judith Ann Merivale (1860 - 1945), Oxford, May 1915, BP195; Maria Sophia Merivale (1853 - 1928), Oxford, May 1915, BP195; John Herman Merivale (1779 - 1844), 1825; James White (1744 - 1825), Exeter, 1816

Bibliography: Leeds City Art Gallery, Leeds Art Calendar, No. 26: Leeds, 1954, p. 11; Adrian Bury, Francis Towne - Lone Star of Water-Colour Painting, Charles Skilton: London, 1962, p. 131

Comment

This is a view of the River Anvill taken from the Wootton Courtenay side, perhaps from around Well Farm. Bickham is the farmhouse on the far right and Timberscombe is the village in the valley. Beyond rises Croydon hill and behind that is the ridge of the Brendon Hills in the distance.¹

Oppé’s note describing three drawings (FT436, FT438, and FT440), including the present one, reads: “1785. Porlock etc. might be pre Italy. Pen & wash 3 Aclands are similar (8gns on each) Tones all over in blue grey. not dated. Pretty, comprehensive, in effect.”²

by Richard Stephens

Footnotes

1 This identification was provided by Brian Pearce, Research and Information Officer of Exmoor National Park Authority, in 2005.
2 Paul Oppé records: notes, ca. 1915.

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Provenance

Comment

Other entries in Acland Estates, 1785–86