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Works Thomas Girtin after (?) John Henderson

A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the River Medway

1795 - 1796

Primary Image: TG0832: Thomas Girtin (1775–1802), after (?) John Henderson (1764–1843), A Boat-Builder's Yard, Possibly on the River Medway, 1795–96, graphite and watercolour on wove paper, 21 × 29.3 cm, 8 ¼ × 11 ½ in. The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge (758).

Photo courtesy of The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge (All Rights Reserved)

Description
Creator(s)
Thomas Girtin (1775-1802) after (?) John Henderson (1764-1843)
Title
  • A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the River Medway
Date
1795 - 1796
Medium and Support
Graphite and watercolour on wove paper
Dimensions
21 × 29.3 cm, 8 ¼ × 11 ½ in
Object Type
Collaborations; Monro School Copy; Work after an Amateur Artist
Subject Terms
Coasts and Shipping; Dover and Kent

Collection
Versions
A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the River Medway (TG0832b)
Catalogue Number
TG0832
Description Source(s)
Viewed in 2001

Provenance

Sir Charles Walston (Waldstein) (1856–1927) and Lady Florence Walston; presented to the Museum, 1914

Bibliography

Girtin and Loshak, 1954, p.205 as 'A Boat-Builder's Yard' by Thomas Girtin

About this Work

This view of a boat-builder’s yard, one of two almost identical versions of the picturesque scene (the other being TG0832b), appears to have been made at the home of Dr Thomas Monro (1759–1833). Girtin is not known to have visited either the river Medway or the Channel coast and his marine scenes and views of boats under construction or repair were executed after other artists, including his master, Edward Dayes (1763–1804), and the amateur artist John Henderson (1764–1843). Henderson lent his ‘outlines of Shipping & Boats’ to Monro so that they might be copied by the young artists the latter patronised (Farington, Diary, 1 December 1795). The outlines Henderson made in Dover provided the basis for a large number of Monro School views of the port and its environs, but there is some evidence that this work, together with a group of ship-building scenes, was executed after sketches that were actually taken on the river Medway to the north. Although it is possible that a sketch by Dayes provided the model for this drawing too, the existence of another version of the composition by Henderson himself (see TG0832b figure 1) suggests that his outlines provided the source for this work and the other boat-building scenes (TG0832a and TG0833). Certainly, the work displays Henderson’s customary fascination with the minutiae of marine labour, including details such as the launching ramp to the right and a hoisting tackle to the left.

Unlike the other version of this composition, which was most likely made in collaboration with Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) at Monro’s home, there is no evidence either that this work was ever in Monro’s collection or that Turner was involved in its production. The pencil work is clearly by Girtin, but he too seems to have been responsible for the colour washes, which are too summary and unmodulated for Turner, and Thomas Girtin (1874–1960) and David Loshak consequently included this watercolour in their catalogue as one of a handful of Monro School subjects that were ‘wholly the work of Girtin’ (Girtin and Loshak, 1954, p.205). It appears, therefore, that in addition to producing an outline for Turner to colour, Girtin was sufficiently taken by Henderson’s composition to make a version for himself. Overlaying images of the two works, which are identical in size, shows just how close the compositions are, and it is possible that Girtin traced at least one of his outlines from the original sketch. However, there are some subtle differences between the drawings, with the foreground figures, for instance, being moved apart so that their labours are more carefully separated, suggesting that Girtin made improvements even as he copied the composition, perhaps with a future studio watercolour in mind.

Image Overlay

1795 - 1796

A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the River Medway

TG0832b

1795 - 1796

A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the River Medway

TG0832a

1795 - 1796

A Boat-Builder’s Shed, Possibly on the River Medway

TG0833

by Greg Smith

Place depicted

Other entries in Monro School Copies:
British Views, Including Works after the Outlines of John Henderson

Thomas Girtin, Edward Dayes

An Upland Landscape with a Rainbow, Said to Be Lowther Fells

Kendal Town Hall

An Upland Landscape with a Rainbow, Said to Be Lowther Fells
Thomas Girtin

Tonbridge Bridge and Castle

Yale Center for British Art, New Haven

Tonbridge Bridge and Castle
Thomas Girtin, Edward Dayes

The High Rocks, near Tunbridge Wells

National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

The High Rocks, near Tunbridge Wells
Thomas Girtin, John Henderson

The Town of Rye, Seen from the Marshes

Yale Center for British Art, New Haven

The Town of Rye, Seen from the Marshes
Thomas Girtin, John Henderson

Dover Castle, Seen from the Beach

Yale Center for British Art, New Haven

Dover Castle, Seen from the Beach
Thomas Girtin

Mickleham Church

Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

Mickleham Church
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner

Unidentified Medieval Ruins, with Agricultural Buildings

Tate, London

Unidentified Medieval Ruins, with Agricultural Buildings
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

A View near Keswick, Probably Bassenthwaite Lake

Private Collection

A View near Keswick, Probably Bassenthwaite Lake
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite Lake, from the Vale of Newlands

Private Collection

Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite Lake, from the Vale of Newlands
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Looking South into Borrowdale, from the Shore of Derwentwater

Private Collection

Looking South into Borrowdale, from the Shore of Derwentwater
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Mountainous Landscape, Possibly in the Lake District

Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

Mountainous Landscape, Possibly in the Lake District
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Boon Crag Cottage, with Coniston Water Beyond

Private Collection

Boon Crag Cottage, with Coniston Water Beyond
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

A View in Cumbria, Probably Looking from Irton Fell towards Ravenglass

Clark Art Institute, Williamstown

A View in Cumbria, Probably Looking from Irton Fell towards Ravenglass
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Borrowdale

Private Collection

Borrowdale
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

A View in Cumbria, Looking towards Irton and the Irish Sea, with the Isle of Man in the Distance

Tate, London

A View in Cumbria, Looking towards Irton and the Irish Sea, with the Isle of Man in the Distance
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

The River Leven, Cumbria, Viewed from Penny Bridge

Tate, London

The River Leven, Cumbria, Viewed from Penny Bridge
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

St John's Vale, Cumbria

Private Collection

St John's Vale, Cumbria
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

The Lodore Falls

Yale Center for British Art, New Haven

The Lodore Falls
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Langdale Pikes

Private Collection

Langdale Pikes
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Unknown Artist

An Unidentified Bridge over a Stream, Possibly in North Wales

Private Collection

An Unidentified Bridge over a Stream, Possibly in North Wales
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Derwentwater, with Skiddaw in the Distance

Eton College, Windsor

Derwentwater, with Skiddaw in the Distance
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Beddgelert Bridge, North Wales

Private Collection

Beddgelert Bridge, North Wales
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

A Mountainous Landscape with an Overshot Mill, Probably in the Lake District

Clark Art Institute, Williamstown

A Mountainous Landscape with an Overshot Mill, Probably in the Lake District
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

A Mountainous River Landscape with a Bridge

Private Collection

A Mountainous River Landscape with a Bridge
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Laporte

Cynwyd Mill, North Wales

Brandler Galleries, London

Cynwyd Mill, North Wales
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Conwy: The Town Walls from the South East

Tate, London

Conwy: The Town Walls from the South East
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Unknown Artist

Raglan Castle: The Great Hall

Private Collection

Raglan Castle: The Great Hall
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

A Mountainous Landscape with an Unidentified Bridge, Possibly in North Wales

Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

A Mountainous Landscape with an Unidentified Bridge, Possibly in North Wales
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

The Iron Bridge at Coalbrookdale

Private Collection

The Iron Bridge at Coalbrookdale
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

An Estuary, Possibly Dartmouth

Private Collection

An Estuary, Possibly Dartmouth
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Grasmere: Looking North West to Helm Crag

Private Collection

Grasmere: Looking North West to Helm Crag
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

The Head of Lake Windermere

Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence

The Head of Lake Windermere
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

The Head of Derwentwater, with the Lodore Falls

Private Collection

The Head of Derwentwater, with the Lodore Falls
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour, with Shipping Being Overhauled

Tate, London

Dover Harbour, with Shipping Being Overhauled
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Two-Master in Dover Harbour, with the Castle Beyond

Tate, London

A Two-Master in Dover Harbour, with the Castle Beyond
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour: A Ship Being Overhauled

Tate, London

Dover Harbour: A Ship Being Overhauled
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Boat on the Shore, near Shakespeare Cliff, Dover

Tate, London

A Boat on the Shore, near Shakespeare Cliff, Dover
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour: Fishing Vessels, Their Sails Drying

Tate, London

Dover Harbour: Fishing Vessels, Their Sails Drying
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Shipping in Dover Harbour, with the Castle Beyond

Tate, London

Shipping in Dover Harbour, with the Castle Beyond
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A General View of Dover Harbour, from the East

Tate, London

A General View of Dover Harbour, from the East
Thomas Girtin, John Henderson

Dover Harbour

British Museum, London

Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour: Small Boats by the Quay

Tate, London

Dover Harbour: Small Boats by the Quay
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Boats in Dover Harbour

British Museum, London

Boats in Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Ship under Repair in Dover Harbour

National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

A Ship under Repair in Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Figures on a Fishing Vessel in Dover Harbour

Private Collection

Figures on a Fishing Vessel in Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Castle from the Sea

Private Collection

Dover Castle from the Sea
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Beached Vessel in the Inner Harbour at Dover

Private Collection

A Beached Vessel in the Inner Harbour at Dover
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour, with the Castle on the Hill

British Museum, London

Dover Harbour, with the Castle on the Hill
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Beached Vessels in Dover Harbour, the Castle in the Distance

Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton

Beached Vessels in Dover Harbour, the Castle in the Distance
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Vessels Anchored in Dover Harbour, with the Castle Beyond

National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

Vessels Anchored in Dover Harbour, with the Castle Beyond
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Warehouses with Shipping in Dover Harbour

Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton

Warehouses with Shipping in Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Vessels in the Harbour at Dover, with the Castle Beyond

Private Collection

Vessels in the Harbour at Dover, with the Castle Beyond
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour, with the Cliffs Beyond

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart

Dover Harbour, with the Cliffs Beyond
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Vessels Moored in Dover Harbour

Private Collection

Vessels Moored in Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

The Inner Harbour, Dover, with the Castle Beyond

Brighton Museum and Art Gallery

The Inner Harbour, Dover, with the Castle Beyond
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Ship Drawn Up on a Beach Being Careened

Private Collection

A Ship Drawn Up on a Beach Being Careened
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Beached Fishing Vessels, Dover Harbour

National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

Beached Fishing Vessels, Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Beached Fishing Vessels in the Harbour at Dover

Private Collection

Beached Fishing Vessels in the Harbour at Dover
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Boats Anchored in Dover Harbour

Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Boats Anchored in Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Boats Anchored in Dover Harbour

Private Collection

Boats Anchored in Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour, with Fishing Boats at Low Tide

The High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Dover Harbour, with Fishing Boats at Low Tide
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover: The Harbour with Vessels

Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

Dover: The Harbour with Vessels
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Smack in Dover Harbour, Drying Sails, with the Old Church in the Distance

National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

A Smack in Dover Harbour, Drying Sails, with the Old Church in the Distance
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour: A Boat under Repair

Private Collection

Dover Harbour: A Boat under Repair
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Fishing Boats at Low Tide, near Dover

Courtauld Gallery, London

Fishing Boats at Low Tide, near Dover
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover: Two Boatmen Standing by the Prow of a Brig

Private Collection

Dover: Two Boatmen Standing by the Prow of a Brig
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour

Private Collection

Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Fisherman's Cottage, Said to Be at Dover

Yale Center for British Art, New Haven

A Fisherman's Cottage, Said to Be at Dover
Thomas Girtin

The Hull of a Ship under Repair, with a Barge and Smaller Boats

Tate, London

The Hull of a Ship under Repair, with a Barge and Smaller Boats
Thomas Girtin, John Henderson

A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the River Medway

Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the River Medway
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the Medway

Private Collection

A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the Medway
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the River Medway

Private Collection

A Boat-Builder’s Yard, Possibly on the River Medway
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Boat-Builder's Shed, Possibly on the River Medway

National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

A Boat-Builder's Shed, Possibly on the River Medway
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Boat-Builder’s Shed, Possibly on the River Medway, with a Fishing Boat with Drying Sails

Tate, London

A Boat-Builder’s Shed, Possibly on the River Medway, with a Fishing Boat with Drying Sails
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

The Coast, near Dover

The Higgins, Bedford

The Coast, near Dover
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Folkestone Harbour

Julian Huxley-Parlour Fine Art

Folkestone Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Beachy Head, Looking towards Newhaven

National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

Beachy Head, Looking towards Newhaven
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Beachy Head, Looking towards Newhaven

Ulster Museum, Belfast

Beachy Head, Looking towards Newhaven
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Shakespeare Cliff, Dover

National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

Shakespeare Cliff, Dover
Thomas Girtin, John Henderson

Beached Vessels in Dover Harbour, the Castle in the Distance

Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

Beached Vessels in Dover Harbour, the Castle in the Distance
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Buildings on a Wooden Quayside

Private Collection

Buildings on a Wooden Quayside
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Coast View with Chalk Cliffs, Probably from near Beachy Head

Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

A Coast View with Chalk Cliffs, Probably from near Beachy Head
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Small Boat under Repair by a Jetty

Private Collection

A Small Boat under Repair by a Jetty
Thomas Girtin, John Henderson

Dover: Snargate Street, Looking West

Private Collection

Dover: Snargate Street, Looking West
Thomas Girtin, John Henderson

Dartford High Street

British Museum, London

Dartford High Street
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dartford High Street

Private Collection

Dartford High Street
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Tonbridge Bridge and Castle

Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

Tonbridge Bridge and Castle
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Rye, from the River Tillingham

National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

Rye, from the River Tillingham
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover: Fishing Boats at Low Tide

Private Collection

Dover: Fishing Boats at Low Tide
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Two Boatmen Caulking the Bows of a Beached Brig, Probably at Dover

Private Collection

Two Boatmen Caulking the Bows of a Beached Brig, Probably at Dover
Thomas Girtin, John Henderson

Dover Harbour

Private Collection

Dover Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Hastings: A Beached Fishing Boat

Private Collection

Hastings: A Beached Fishing Boat
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Coastal Scene at Dover

Worthing Museum and Art Gallery

A Coastal Scene at Dover
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, James Moore

Mickleham Church

Tate, London

Mickleham Church
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Dolbadarn Castle on Llyn Padarn

Clark Art Institute, Williamstown

Dolbadarn Castle on Llyn Padarn
Thomas Girtin, John Henderson

The Harbour at Weymouth

Private Collection

The Harbour at Weymouth
Edward Dayes

Pont Aberglaslyn

Private Collection

Pont Aberglaslyn
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Conwy Castle, from the East

Huddersfield Art Gallery

Conwy Castle, from the East
Unknown Artist

Harlech Castle, from the South

National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

Harlech Castle, from the South
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner

The High Street at Egham

Private Collection

The High Street at Egham
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

Two Trees Overlooking a Meandering River

Private Collection

Two Trees Overlooking a Meandering River
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Edward Dayes

A Dilapidated Cottage

Private Collection

A Dilapidated Cottage
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover: Boats Anchored in the Harbour

Private Collection

Dover: Boats Anchored in the Harbour
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

A Coastal View near Dover, probably at St Margaret's, Cliffe

Private Collection

A Coastal View near Dover, probably at St Margaret's, Cliffe
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover: Beached Boats, with the Castle Beyond

Private Collection

Dover: Beached Boats, with the Castle Beyond
Thomas Girtin, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Henderson

Dover Harbour: The Stern of a Large Ship, and Smaller Vessels

Tate, London

Dover Harbour: The Stern of a Large Ship, and Smaller Vessels
Thomas Girtin

The Town of Rye, Seen from the Marshes

British Museum, London

The Town of Rye, Seen from the Marshes

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