Circle of Richard Westall RA The Holy Family

An original early 19th-century watercolour painting, Circle of Richard Westall RA, The Holy Family.

The brilliant colouring, rich composition and highly finished nature of this exceptional watercolour reflect the achievement and innovation of Richard Westall RA (1765–1836) in the watercolour medium. The first artist to treat small-scale watercolour paintings in the grand manner of oil, he is credited with bringing this peculiarly British medium to prominence and popularity.

One of Westall’s champions was Richard Payne Knight, who became his patron and allegedly thought that Westall was as good as Raphael or Rubens. The present watercolour, sensuous and corporal in subject and execution, indeed recalls both of these great artists. Richly painted in watercolour with gum arabic, Mary's abundant drapery and the Child's rounded body—echoed by the sinuous background foliage—create a sense of warmth and corporal realism. The focus of the image is Mary's wide-set eyes and wistful gaze, looking on whilst she tenderly cradles the sleeping Christ Child.

The Holy Family subject has been repeated throughout Western art history. This composition in watercolour is after a 1630 oil painting by Anthony Van Dyck titled 'Rest on the Flight into Egypt', now in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Rubens also painted a number of variations on the theme, with Mother and Child, Saint Francis and also Saint Anne and Joseph. There were also numerous print versions produced from the 16th-century onwards after Van Dyck's and Rubens' Holy Family subjects.

Richard Westall painted works in a neoclassical style for John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery and for Henry Fuseli's Milton Gallery. He was also a prolific book illustrator, including the works of Sir Walter Scott, Oliver Goldsmith, William Cowper and Thomas Gray—and editions of the Bible, including one with John Martin.

In watercolour with gum arabic to intensify the colour and touches of white bodycolour. On card. There are remnants of red sealing wax at the upper edge on the verso of the card.