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Works Thomas Girtin after (?) Edward Dayes

All Saints' Church, Marlow

1792 - 1793

Primary Image: TG0249: Thomas Girtin (1775–1802), after (?) Edward Dayes (1763–1804), All Saints' Church, Marlow, 1792–93, graphite on wove paper, 13.3 × 21.6 cm, 5 ¼ × 8 ½ in. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection (B1975.3.1174).

Photo courtesy of Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection (Public Domain)

Description
Creator(s)
Thomas Girtin (1775-1802) after (?) Edward Dayes (1763-1804)
Title
  • All Saints' Church, Marlow
Date
1792 - 1793
Medium and Support
Graphite on wove paper
Dimensions
13.3 × 21.6 cm, 5 ¼ × 8 ½ in
Object Type
Outline Drawing; Work from a Known Source: Contemporary British
Subject Terms
Buckinghamshire View; Gothic Architecture: Parish Church; River Scenery

Collection
Versions
All Saints’ Church, Marlow (TG0271)
Catalogue Number
TG0249
Girtin & Loshak Number
141i as 'Great Marlow Church, Bucks (previously called Henley Church)'; '1795–6'
Description Source(s)
Viewed in 2001

Provenance

James Moore (1762–99); his widow, Mary Moore (née Howett) (d.1835); bequeathed to Anne Miller (1802–90); bequeathed to Edward Mansel Miller (1829–1912); bequeathed to Helen Louisa Miller (1842–1915); bought by Thomas Girtin (1874–1960), 1912; given to Tom Girtin (1913–94), c.1938; bought by John Baskett on behalf of Paul Mellon (1907–99), 1970; presented to the Center, 1975

Exhibition History

New Haven, 1986a, no.27

Bibliography

Hartley, 1984, p.58

About this Work

Thomas Girtin (1874–1960) and David Loshak argued that this pencil drawing of the old church at Marlow on the river Thames was made after a sketch that they attributed to Girtin’s master, Edward Dayes (1763–1804) (TG0271) (Girtin and Loshak, 1954, p.153). Although that pencil sketch has since been very plausibly ascribed to Girtin himself, it is still likely that the compositions of both drawings came from an outline drawing by Dayes, especially as there is no evidence that Girtin ever visited the Buckinghamshire town, despite the fact that he returned to the subject on a number of occasions (Hartley, 1984, p.58). Girtin’s earliest view of Marlow (TG0054), dating from 1791, was almost certainly made after a view by Dayes, and an undated watercolour by the young artist’s master (see TG0271 figure 1) shows a very similar view of the church from across the river. Differences between Girtin’s drawing and the Dayes watercolour, such as the greater extent of the buildings to the left and right and the variation in the shipping on the river, suggest, however, that Girtin did not copy the watercolour itself but worked from an untraced common source. This sketch, together with the watercolour that was made from it (TG0237) may date from later than Girtin’s first Marlow view and the end of his apprenticeship to Dayes, but this was still at a time before Girtin was in a position to travel extensively to draw such picturesque scenery.

The drawing came from the collection of the antiquarian and amateur artist James Moore (1762–99), who began to employ Girtin to make watercolours after his own sketches around 1792, so it is possible that the prototype for the composition was an untraced sketch of his instead. The Dayes connection is not necessarily invalidated, however, as he also often based his works on sketches made by Moore and there are a number of examples where he acted as an intermediary between the amateur artist and Girtin. The drawing shows the south flank of the medieval church with its prominent spire, all of which was lost when the church was rebuilt in the 1830s, and such ancient and unspoilt buildings were of particular interest for the antiquarian. The Moore connection may indeed account for the existence of two very close versions of the drawing. One plausible explanation, consistent with Moore’s patronage, would be that he bought this drawing from Girtin and that the sketch (TG0271) was made as a replica from which the artist might make studio watercolours, such as All Saints’ Church, Marlow (TG0237).

1792 - 1793

All Saints’ Church, Marlow

TG0271

(?) 1791

Marlow, from across the River Thames

TG0054

1792 - 1793

All Saints’ Church, Marlow

TG0271

1792 - 1793

All Saints’ Church, Marlow

TG0237

1792 - 1793

All Saints’ Church, Marlow

TG0271

1792 - 1793

All Saints’ Church, Marlow

TG0237

by Greg Smith

Place depicted

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