Paul Sandby (1731-1809)
John Clerk, William Adam and his nurse c. 1752
Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour | 11.5 x 17.7 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 914406
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A pencil, pen and watercolour drawing of a woman in a bonnet holding a baby playing with a backgammon board. A man is seated on the right. Inscribed at lower right in a later hand, also appearing on later mounts in the collection, 'del 1752'. Inscribed on the verso in pen and brown ink in a later hand, 'The Old Nurse with William Adam, (son of John Adam) a famous speaker in the House of Commons, and his Uncle John Clarke noted for many fine Etching of views in Scotland, drawn in the year 1752'. Inscribed below in pencil, 'J Clarke' and numbered 36. William Adam, son of the architect John Adam of Kinross, was born on August 2 1751. He became MP for Gatton in 1774. John Clerk, of Eldin (1728-1812) was noted as an amateur etcher from 1770, and a friend of Sandby from his time in Scotland. The two corresponded on artistic matters (see M. Hardie, Print Collector's Quarterley, XX, 1933, 62). John Clerk married Susannah Adam, William's aunt, in 1753. Another watercolour drawing by Sandby in a similar style, dating from his early years in Scotland, is RCIN 914407.
Provenance
Probably from a volume of 134 figure studies acquired (£35) at the Paul Sandby estate sale, 1811
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Creator(s)
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Medium and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour
Measurements
11.5 x 17.7 cm (sheet of paper)
Object type(s)
Other number(s)
RL 14406