Cotmania. Vol. III. 1928-9

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TURNER AND CANALETTO
The first 36 lots in the sale consisted of water-colour drawings by J.M.W. Turner, nearly all of which have passed through various famous collections. The most important was "The Rigi at Sunset: Lake of Lucerne," known as "the Red Rigi," painted about 1841-2 ; this was bought at the J.E. Taylor sale in 1912 for 2,000 guineas, and was now sold for 7,900 guineas to Messrs. Agnew, who also purchades the following, except where otherwise indicated: - Lulworth Cove, Dorset, 1812, 720 guineas ; Goarshausen and Katz Castle, on the Rhine, 1819 - 540 guineas (Finberg), bought in 1908 for 48 guineas ; the Crook of the Moselle, Marienburg - 440 guineas ; a scene on the East Coast of England, 1836-38 - 500 guineas ; In the Vale d'Aosta, 1840 - 720 guineas (D. Croal Thomson) ; Lausanne, from Le Signal, 1842 - 2,400 guineas (Harrison) ; Spietz, on the Lake Brienz, 1842-3 - 1,400 guineas ; "Lucerne and the Rigi: Early Dawn," 1843-4 - 1,850 guineas ; Tell's Chapel, Fluelen, 1845 - 520 Guineas ; and Rheinfels, looking across to Katz Castle, 1819 - 720 guineas. Turner's picture of Bonneville, Savoy and Mont Blanc, exhibited at the Royal Academy 1803, and bought at the Camperdown sale as recently as 1919 for 3,600 guineas also went to Mr Agnew at 5,800 guineas.
The four superb Canaletto views of Venice, 35 in. by 53 in., were painted in 1725 and 1726 for Signor Conti, of Lucca, and were purchased for the Marchese Bochella, of Lucca, in 1832. Three fell to Messrs. Colnaggi, the Church of the PP. Della Carita, Rochetini, - 6,400 guineas. The fourth, the Church of SS. Giovanni e Paolo, went to the Savile Gallery at 6,300 guineas. The artist received 30 sequins each for these pictures - a sequin being worth rather less than 10s.
Christie's Sale. Dec: 14. 1928
('The Times' 15.12.28)

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'The Connoisseur' Feb 7 1929
Very different in conception, is the flatly, yet picturesquely rendered, scene of The River at King Street, Norwich, by John Thirtle, who, it will be recalled, was John Sell Cotman's brother-in-law. Magnificently "large" in handling, this excellent water-colour measures 15 1/16 in. by 17 13/16 in., and was acquired for South Kensington in 1926.

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{Kitson's account of movements, 16 - 17 Dec}

Dec: 16 - spent the evening with L. S. Duke. He had bought at Puttick and Simpson auction rooms for 8£ about 4. Norwich school drawings. (1) a very good coloured chalk sketch - 'in the London Docks' - c.1831 - (2) a drawing copy '2854' 'Near Buildwas' - taken from the sketch in the B.M. 'on the road from Buildwas to Wenlock' - 1802 - (3) another '3075' of cottages - bad and evidently by Anne. - (4) a drawing on blue paper of a river - like the 1841 drawings, but more 'made-up' - probably by J.J. - a lot of small Lounds, mostly records of pictures, but 2 or 3 very good ones - a large estuary, castle, touched with sepia on left - possibly by Danniell [sic].
Dec 17. Called on F.J. [Mild], 34 Bond Street, found he still had the Cotman-Bulwer drawings of Somersetshire. Bought them. Called on Sir George Clausen; saw his Cotman, a fine interior in the triforium of Norwich Cath[edra]l - 17½ x 13¾ c. 1824-28*, mostly brown, some scarlet & Chinese white. Royal coat of arms and other [lumber?] piled on left. He also has a P. S. Munn monochrome - 1806 - 'Composition, study for a larger picture'.