About this lot
Description
John White Abbott (British, 1763–1851) Country house amongst trees, Devon pencil on buff paper 12 x 14cm (5 x 5in)
Provenance: From the collection of the late Sir Richard Parsons Other Notes: Born and educated in Exeter, John White Abbott established himself first and foremost as a surgeon and kept his practice throughout his life. He studied art under his friend Francis Towne (1739-1816), but opted not to become a professional artist. He assimilated Towne's style so well that his works are often almost indistinguishable from those of his mentor. Abbott exhibited annually at the Royal Academy between 1795 and 1805, yet he lived the life of a country gentleman and is said never to have sold a picture. As a result, a large proportion of his works have remained in his family's collection. Abbott seldom left his native Devon and, as an amateur landscape artist, mostly specialised in depicting the local scenery of the Exeter region. Sir Richard Edmund Clement Fownes Parsons (1928-2016) This sale includes selected items from the collection of the late Sir Richard Parsons, removed from his Norfolk home. Sir Richard Parsons was a career diplomat, and through the 1970s and 1980s he was successively British Ambassador to Hungary, Spain and Sweden. During the late 1960s and early 1970s he had postings to Ankara and Lagos, as well as periods in London. In 1976 he was appointed ambassador to Hungary. He was the Ambassador to Sweden from 1984 to 1987, after which he left the Diplomatic Service and settled in King's Lynn, Norfolk. In his retirement he focused on his writing and at the town's literary festival gave talks about his diplomatic adventures. Notable pieces from this collection are the wonderful Madonna and Child by the Master of San Miniato (lot 106) and the rare miniature by Isaac Oliver of Sir Richard Parsons' ancestor, Thomas Fones, who was Mayor of Plymouth (lot 161). Also of note are the vibrant watercolours by his grandfather, Alfred Parsons, RA (lots 85-88) which demonstrate the family's artistic leanings in addition to their passion for collecting. Lots 62, 63, 65, 83, 99, 130, 134, 161-165 are also from this estate. In our March 2019 Fine Art sale we will offer a Grand Tour portrait of his ancestor Edward Curtis of Mardyke House, Hotwells, Bristol, by Marco Benefial (Italian, 1684 - 1764) together with the embroidered silk waistcoat the sitter is wearing (please refer to the advertisement at the beginning of this catalogue).
A little browning around the edges.
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