About this lot

Description

A View across Southampton Water with Lord Lansdowne's Castle on the left, with the spire of St Michael's Church to the right oil on canvas 116 x 147cm

Footnote: Sebastian Pether was born in 1790, the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Pether. He moved with his family to Southampton in 1805 and followed in the family tradition of landscape painting. He exhibited a painting at the Royal Academy in 1819 entitled, "A View of Southampton as seen from the Itchen Ferry". The present painting depicts Lord Lansdowne’s Castle - a Gothic style mansion built on the site of Southampton’s medieval castle in the early 19th century. The original castle was constructed in the 11th century, sometimes after the Norman Conquest, but by the 18th century it was a neglected ruin. In 1804, the site was purchased by John Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 2nd Marquess of Lansdowne (1765-1809), who started building a folly castle on the Norman motte. He lived there until his death in 1809. Since the castle proved unsuited as a residence, it was abandoned and demolished in 1818.

Condition report: Oil on canvas which appears to be lined. There are undulations at the corners of the canvas. The paint layer is stable overall. It has been thinly applied and there are areas of wear. There is extensive retouching across the surface which is slightly dark and matte compared to the original but acceptable. The varnish is even and glossy. The frame is in a good condition,

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