Thomas Girtin

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Thomas Girtin
1775-1802
Melrose Abbey, from the North East
1796-1797
Watercolor over graphite, on paper.
13 9/16 x 16 9/16 inches (344 x 422 mm)
Purchased as the gift of Paul Mellon.
1978.22
Notes: 

Watermark: none visible through lining.

Inscription: 

Inscribed on back of lining, in pen and brown ink, "Melrose Abbey / on the Tweed".

Provenance: 
Thomas Brown; his sale, Christie's, London, 5 June 1869, lot 274; where bought by Thos. Agnew & Sons; from whom bought on 14 June 1869 by John Heugh (ca. 1813-1878); his sale, Christie's, London, 24 April 1874, lot 80 (as Turner); where acquired by Colnaghi; James Worthington; Henry Worthington; Sotheby's, London, 10 October 1974, lot 27 (as Edward Dayes); Christie's, 1 March 1977, lot 116 (as Girtin); Spink and Son Ltd., London; from whom acquired by the Morgan in 1978 as the gift of Paul Mellon.
Associated names: 

Heugh, John, former owner.
Worthington, James, former owner.
Mellon, Paul, donor.

Bibliography: 

Ryskamp, Charles, ed. Nineteenth Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1978-1980. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1981, p. 195.
Exhibition of Drawings of Architectural Subjects by Deceased British Aritsts, Burlington Fine Arts Club, London, 1884, no. 169 (as Turner).
Sir Walter Armstrong, Turner, London-New York, 1902, 266 (as Turner).
English Watercolor Drawings, Spink and Son Ltd., London, 1978, no. 8, repr.
Wiles, Stephanie. To Observe and Imagine : British Drawings, 1600-1900. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1998, no. 44.

Catalog link: 
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Artist page: 
Girtin, Thomas
School: 
British
Century: 
18th century
Classification: 
Drawing
Department: 
Drawings and Prints