David Roberts, R.A.

Purchased from the artist by William Wells (1767–1847), Redleaf, Kent, for 20 guineas;

Probably by whom sold to 'Mr Blake' (according to a note in the artist's sketchbook);

Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 5 February 1964, lot 179, for £160, to Delané.

Listed in the artist’s record books under works completed in 1828, 1796–1864, vol. I, p. 36, no. 30 (as 'The Town Hall of Louvain');

J. Ballantine, The life of David Roberts, R.A., Edinburgh 1866, p. 248, no. 32.

London, British Institution, 1829, no. 30.

A drawing replicating the central part of this composition, executed by the artist on the spot and dated 1 July 1826, was sold at Sotheby's, London, 15 March 1984, lot 191. The town hall of Louvain also features in another oil by the artist, painted in 1827 and exhibited at the British Institution that same year, where it was acquired by Sir Frances Freeling for 40 guineas.¹

Note on Provenance

This work was acquired from the artist in 1828 by William Wells (1767–1847) who, according to the Roberts' record book, also purchased 'a Duplicate Picture of The Tower of St Rombauld at Mechlin for which he paid me Twenty Five Guineas'.² Wells was a retired shipbuilder who bought the Redleaf estate near Penshurst in Kent in about 1806, thereafter completely rebuilding the house, and amassing a significant collection of Old Master paintings, including works by Pieter de Hooch (Mauritshuis, The Hague)³ and Ludolf Backhuysen (Private collection).⁴

¹ D. Roberts, Artist’s record books under works completed in 1827, 1796–1864, vol. I, p. 28, no. 18 (as 'Part of the Hotel de Ville at Louvain').

² Roberts, 1796–1864, vol. I, p. 36, under no. 30.

³ https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/our-collection/artworks/835-a-man-smoking-and-a-woman-drinking-in-a-courtyard

⁴ https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/old-masters-evening-l17036/lot.38.html