Thomas Girtin

John Postle Heseltine (1843-1929),

his executor's sale, London, Sotheby's, 27-29 May 1935, lot 313, (as part of an album) bt Bernard Squire;

Walter C. Hetherington (d. 1978),

his executor's sale, London, Christie's, 14 February 1978, lot 57,

where probably acquired by the late husband of the current owner

G. Smith, Thomas Girtin (1775-1802): An Online Catalogue, Archive and Introduction to the Artist, no. TG1514

Dr. Greg Smith has dated this drawing to circa 1794-5 and linked it to another study of a young girl that has traditionally been identified as Girtin’s wife, Mary Ann Borrett (1781-1843).¹ Dr. Smith questions this identification and makes another suggestion that Girtin’s subject, both here and in the above mentioned watercolour, might be his sister, Mary, who was born in 1777.

This drawing was once owned by John Postle Heseltine, a trustee of the National Gallery, who formed an important collection of old master paintings and drawings that included works by, amongst others, Rembrandt, Rubens, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

We are grateful for Dr. Smith’s help when cataloguing this lot. 

^1. G. Smith, Thomas Girtin (1775-1802): An Online Catalogue, Archive and Introduction to the Artist, no. TG1515