William Markham, Regatta at Cowes, Isle of Wight – Early 19th-century watercolour painting
William Markham, Regatta at Cowes, Isle of Wight – Early 19th-century watercolour painting
William Markham, Regatta at Cowes, Isle of Wight – Early 19th-century watercolour painting

William Markham Regatta at Cowes, Isle of Wight

€364,95
€364,95
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View the full Collection: O'Grady Vereker Collection

An original early 19th-century watercolour painting – William Markham, Regatta at Cowes, Isle of Wight.

A delightful marine subject by Col William Markham (1796–1852) showing sailing boats at the Cowes Regatta on the Isle of Wight.

Markham is a listed artist, whose work was principally maritime subjects. He resided at Becca Hall, Aberford, Yorkshire, where he was Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding and Colonel of the 2nd York Militia. His son Col. William Thomas Markham (1830–1886) lived in Cowes on the Isle of Wight and was buried at Northwood Cemetery there. William Thomas Markham married Anne Emily Sophia Grant, daughter of the famous Scottish painter Sir Francis Grant.

This painting forms part of our Irish aristocratic O'Grady / Vereker collection. The Vereker family had a connection with the Isle of Wight and specifically East Cowes Castle, designed by John Nash. Col Charles Vereker, 2nd Viscount Gort visited the castle and instructed Nash to design him a similar home at Lough Cutra, Co. Galway. By a strange turn of events, East Cowes Castle came into the ownership of the Gort family, when Charles's son, John Prendergast Vereker, 3rd Viscount Gort, acquired it by marrying Elizabeth Tudor.

This drawing is one of a fascinating collection of works that we have for sale connected with the aristocratic O'Grady and Vereker families of 19th-century Ireland.

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O'Grady Vereker Collection

The O'Grady family was headed by Standish O'Grady, 1st Viscount Guillamore (1766–1840) of Co. Limerick, an eminent barrister and Lord Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, known for his remarkable wit and learning. His daughter the Hon. Maria O'Grady (1791–1854) married John Prendergast Vereker, 3rd Viscount Gort (1790–1865), MP for Limerick. The collection comprises drawings by numerous members of the O'Grady and Vereker families of consistently high quality.

Interesting examples include a battle scene at Castlegarde Castle, Co. Limerick, by Waller O’Grady, who bought the castle in 1820; a portrait of Irish nationalist and leader of the Young Irelanders Thomas F. Meagher; and a view at Lough Cutra Castle, Co. Galway, the seat of Col Charles Vereker, 2nd Viscount Gort, painted by Harriet Elizabeth Stamer, Duchess de Rovigo. Lough Cutra was modelled by the architect John Nash on his East Cowes Castle. Charles Vereker had been so taken with the castle when he visited the Isle of Wight, that he instructed the architect to build him a similar home on the banks of Loch Cutra. There are some Isle of Wight drawings in the collection.

These pictures, by a family at the heart of Ireland's elite in the 19th century, were produced during a period of conflicting unionist and nationalist loyalties within the aristocracy. In 1803 Standish O'Grady led the prosecution of Robert Emmet's Irish republican rebellion, helping secure convictions for the Crown. Charles Vereker, 2nd Viscount Gort, however, had opposed the act of union in 1800, and thereby forfeited his militia command and lost his seat as MP for Limerick. Further family members, the author and historian Standish James O’Grady (1846–1928) and antiquarian Standish Hayes O'Grady (1832–1915), were key figures in the revival of Celtic literature and scholarship. The aristocracy may have been aligned with land, power and the Crown, but they nevertheless played their part in carving out a distinct Irish national identity.

COA
+ Artwork Details

Dimensions: Height: 16.4cm (6.46") Width: 22.2cm (8.74")

Presented: Unframed.

Medium: Watercolour

Age: Early 19th-century

Signed: Inscribed with artist's name verso.

Inscribed: Inscribed verso.

Dated: --

Condition: In good condition for its age. The picture may have minor imperfections such as slight marks, toning, foxing, creasing or pinholes, commensurate with age. Please see photos for detail.There are historic adhesive marks and/or paper remnants to the corners on the verso, from previous mounting.

Stock number: KD-074