William Callow (1812-1908) - Sorrento boats in the Bay of Naples
William Callow first went to France in 1827 to work under Thales Fielding until 1829. He then went to Paris where was under the Swiss artist Osterwald and also worked for Newton Fielding. 'He briefly returned to London for six months but in 1831 he was back in Paris where he shared a studio with Thomas Shotter Boys and thus came under the influence of Richard Parkes Bonington. In 1834 he took over the studio from Boys and built a large and profitable teaching practice among the French nobility.' [1] He finally returned to live in England in 1841 after being elected A.O.W.S in 1839. Callow travelled extensively in Europe and his Italian views are still highly sought after.
Callow visited Naples possibly for the first time in 1839 and again in the Spring of 1876 . He expressed in 1892 having reached 'eighty years of age, I had a strong desire to once more visit Italy, feeling that if I were to put it off any longer I might never see that wonderful country again.' [2] Callow made the most of the this visit and at 'Naples we stayed at an hotel delightfully situated opposite the public gardens and facing the Bay.' [3]. Throughout his career Naples proved an important subject matter and Prince Albert purchased his drawing 'Fishing Boats at Naples' in 1841 which is now in the National Maritime Museum. [4] Later in the RSW's 1852 exhibition the Prince also bought no. 113 'Distant View of Naples - Early Morning.' [5] This was an important work by Callow and was engraved by the Art Journal in 1856. Reynolds writes about Callow's Italian scenes that they 'are likely to fetch some of the highest prices [for his works]' and uses as example of 'Castel dell'Ovo, Naples'. [6]
There have been several works which have been titled 'Sorrento' by Callow. This included an exhibited watercolour 'Near Sorrento, Naples' at the Winter exhibition at the RSW in 1873. At a large sale of Callow's works at the Leicester Galleries between October-November 1907 there were four views of Sorrento dated 1876 and two of the Bay of Naples from 1840. Our watercolour is not dated but could be from his earlier works from the 1840s as the style is reminiscent of Bonington, Shotter Boys and JMW Turner.
Medium: Pencil and watercolour with touches of bodycolour and with scratching out on paper, signed l.l. 'W. Callow', 22.8 x 31.7cm (framed 49.3 x 59.4cm).
Provenance: Christie's Sale 7th August 2012, lot 276 (labels verso).
Bibliography:
[1] Huon Mallieu (2002), 'The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920: Volume I A-L', Antique Collectors Club: Woodbridge, pp.140-142. See entry on artist.
[2] H.M. Cundall (ed.), William Callow, An Autobiography, London (1908), p.79, 141 and 145-146.
[3] Ibid., p.146.
[4] Jan Reynolds (1980), 'William Callow', Butler & Tanner Ltd: London, pp.94-95.
[5] Ibid., p.95.
[6] Ibid., p.114.
Condition report: good for its age. A few very small scuffs and time staining. Frame and mount show a bit of wear. Please see photos.