Samuel Hieronymus Grimm (1733-1794) - The Avon Gorge and Hot Wells House Bristol

Samuel Hieronymus Grimm 'began as a poet and oil painter in Switzerland, where he was a pupil of J.L. Aberli, occasionally producing watercolour views. In 1765 he moved to Paris, and stayed in France until the beginning of 1768, when he crossed the Channel and made his home in England. In 1766 he had made a sketching tour of Normandy with Philipp Hackert and Nicholas Perignon. In 1768 he contributed to the first exhibition at the R.A., and he later exhibited the S.A. and the Free Society. In 1776 Gilbert White employed him at Selborne to make drawings for the great Natural History. In 1777 he toured Wales with the antiquary Henry Penruddocke Wyndham; later he worked for Cornelius Heathcote Rodes of Barlborough Hall, Derbyshire, Sir William Burrell in Sussex, the Rev. Sir Richard Kaye in Sussex, the Farne Islands and elsewhere, and Richard Gough. He was also well known for caricature drawings, and illustrations to Shakespeare.
 
Of his methods for topographical work, Gilbert White wrote: 'He first of all sketches his scapes with a lead-pencil; then he pens them all over, as he calls it, with Indian ink, rubbing out the superfluous pencil-strokes; then he gives a charming shading with a brush dipped in Indian ink; and last he throws a light tinge of watercolours over the whole'.' [1]
 
One of Grimm's most important patrons was James Tobin of Bristol. It is therefore unsurprising that the artist painted a lot of the area with many of them in the Bristol Musuems Collections. Our watercolour depicts the Avon Gorge with Hot Wells House visible. It is an idyllic scene and is an interesting example of the Gorge before the Clifton Suspension Bridge was built in the 19th Century. Perhaps Tobin commissioned this watercolour as it is a highly finished work by Grimm.
 
Provenance: Albany Gallery, 14 Mason's Yard, Duke Street, London (label verso).
 
Bibliography:
 
[1] Huon Mallieu (2002), 'The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920: Volume I A-L', Antique Collectors Club: Woodbridge, p.284. See entry on artist.
 
Condition report: generally very good for its age. A small bit of time staining and a couple of small pin pricks in the sky.