John Charles Denham River Liffey with Castle Ruin, Wicklow, Ireland

An original early 19th-century watercolour painting, John Charles Denham, River Liffey with Castle Ruin, Wicklow, Ireland.

A beautiful drawing in grey wash by John Charles Denham (exh.1796–1858, d.1867) showing a picturesque view on the River Liffey in Ireland.

John Charles Denham (exh.1796–1858, d.1867) was a British civil servant who was secretary and treasurer of the Globe Insurance Company of London. An amateur artist, he was one of the original members of the Society of Young Painters (or the Brothers), founded in 1799. The sketching club met 'for the purpose of establishing by practice a school of Historic Landscape, the subjects being designs from poetic passages'. Along with Denham as treasurer, the group comprised Louis Francia, Thomas Girtin, Thomas Richard Underwood, George Samuel, Robert Ker Porter and Worthington. Later members included John Varley, William Alexander, Paul Sandby Munn and Sir Augustus Wall Callcott, with J.S. Cotman as president.

There are works by Denham in the collections of Tate, London and Yale Center for British Art.

On watermarked Edmeads & Co laid paper, dating from around the period 1780s to 1813.