Samuel Howitt (1756–1822) was a watercolour artist who concentrated on sporting scenes and animal subjects, many made for reproduction as coloured aquatints. A keen devotee of field sports, Howitt only took up art professionally when forced to do so by financial difficulties, showing at the Royal Academy from 1784. It is not known how or exactly when Howitt and Girtin met but two watercolours signed by both artists, Stags Fighting amongst a Herd of Deer in Windsor Great Park (TG1373) and A Herd of Deer in Richmond Park (TG1374), date from around 1795–96. In both cases, Girtin painted the landscape, leaving space for the specialist animal painter to add the herds of deer. At least two other works appear to be the result of a similar collaboration, including Windsor Great Park: Herne’s Oak with a Herd of Deer (TG1371), and on at least one occasion Girtin copied one of Howitt’s animal studies to create his A Study of a Lion from the Tower of London (TG1519).

1795 - 1796

Stags Fighting amongst a Herd of Deer in Windsor Great Park, with the Castle in the Distance

TG1373

1795 - 1796

A Herd of Deer in Richmond Park

TG1374

1795 - 1796

Windsor Great Park: Herne’s Oak with a Herd of Deer

TG1371

1797 - 1798

A Study of a Lion from the Tower of London

TG1519

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