Peter De Wint (1784-1849) - Dover Harbour

This watercolour likely was painted around 1828 when De Wint travelled on his only excursion abroad when he made a short tour in Normandy. 'The visit led to several drawings and paintings including Dover from the Ferry, c.1830 (Usher Gallery) and Dieppe Castle from the Beach, c.1828-1830, besides views within Dieppe. Rouen, Caen and Fecamp were also drawn.' [1]
 
The large-scale watercolour of Dover from the Ferry is in the large De Wint collection at the Usher Gallery in Lincoln. Interestingly, there were two watercolours named 'Dover' at De Wint's Studio Sale in 1850 (lots 42 and 100). There was also a watercolour titled 'Dover, from the Deal Road' (lot 477). There are few known works of Dover by De Wint which suggests our work could be either lot 42 or 100. Our watercolour depicts Dover Harbour at low tide and is an important work by the artist.
 
Medium: watercolour on paper, 20.4 x 43.1cm, framed (41.3 x 61.9cm).
 
Provenance: J Davey & Sons, 44 Duke Street, Liverpool (label verso).
 
Bibliography:
 
[1] John Lord (2008). Peter DeWint 1784-1849, Lund Humphries: Aldershot, p.19
 
Condition report: generally good for its age. There is general time staining and a small tear in the lower right hand corner. The mount shows time staining too and the watercolour would benefit from a new mount and perhaps museum glass. The frame shows wear. Please see photos. Note, the photos were taken under different lighting. The watercolour is probably somewhere between the two.