Sir Augustus Wall Callcott RA, Venetian Harbour – early C19th graphite drawing

Sir Augustus Wall Callcott RA Venetian Harbour

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View the full Collection: Callcott RA, Sir Augustus Wall (1779–1844)

An original early 19th-century graphite drawing, Sir Augustus Wall Callcott RA, Venetian Harbour.

A delightful maritime study of the harbourside in Venice by Sir Augustus Wall Callcott RA (1779–1844). In his day Callcott was one of the most admired of English landscape and marine painters.

Callcott travelled to Italy in 1827, the year he married the writer Maria Graham, and in 1830 he began to exhibit Italian compositions. After this year the subjects of his pictures were generally foreign.

Provenance: From the Collection of Dr E.M. Brett of Hampstead. Abbott & Holder, 30 Museum Street, WC1A 1LH.

On laid paper with coronet watermark.

Sir Augustus Wall Callcott RA (1779–1844)

This drawing forms part of a small collection of sketches by Sir Augustus Wall Callcott RA (1779–1844) that we have for sale. Callcott was born at Kensington Gravel Pits (now known as Notting Hill Gate). His first study was music and he sang for several years in the choir of Westminster Abbey, but aged twenty he became a student of the Royal Academy, and began his artistic career as a painter of portraits under the tuition of John Hoppner.

He built a strong reputation as a landscape, river and coastal painter and was in 1806 elected an associate of the Royal Academy, and in 1810 a full Academician. The skill and diligence of his compositions meant that they were not prolific in number; from 1805 to 1810 he exhibited about four pictures a year, in 1811 ten pictures, and in 1812, six. From that year to 1822 he exhibited only seven works in all.

On the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837, Callcott received the honour of knighthood, and in 1843 he succeeded William Seguier as Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures. Callcott was a close associate of, and highly regarded by, J.M.W. Turner.

In 1827 Callcott married the writer Maria Graham, the widow of Captain Graham, RN. His brother, John Wall Callcott, was a noted composer.

Works by Sir Augustus Wall Callcott can be found in the collections of the Tate, V&A and the University of Oxford.