Lot 55: EDWARD BRADLEY (FL.1824-1867)

VIEW OF THE STAR AND GARTER, RICHMOND TERRACE, FROM THE THAMES; AND VIEW FROM RICHMOND HILL OVER THE THAMES THE SECOND SIGNED, INSCRIBED AND DATED 'VIEW FROM RICHMOND HILL, SURREY. PAINTED ON THE SPOT. 1826. NO 6. EDW BRADLEY 23 NEWMOUNT ST. PUTNEY' (ON A LABEL ON THE REVERSE) OIL ON BOARD 10 X 14 IN. (25.3 X 35.6 CM.) A PAIR (2) (2) NOTES THE FIRST VIEW LOOKING UP TOWARDS THE STAR AND GARTER HOTEL UNSUALLY FOR VIEWS OF THIS DATE SHOWS THE BACK OF THE HOTEL. THE HOTEL WAS ENLARGED BY JOSEPH ELLIS, WHO BECAME PROPIETOR IN 1821 AND BUILT A BLOCK OF NEW ACCOMODATION AT THE BACK. TO THE RIGHT OF THE HOTEL IS ANCASTER HOUSE, BUILT FOR PEREGRINE, 3RD DUKE OF ANCASTER IN 1772, WHICH BY THE 19TH CENTURY HAD BECOME THE QUARTERS FOR THE STAR AND GARTER STAFF. THE RUSTIC SUMMER HOUSE ON THE RIGHT BANK OF THE RIVER, WAS PROBABLY BUILT IN THE LATE 18TH CENTURY AND WAS DRAWN BY ROWLANDSON AND WESTALL IN 1822. THE VIEW FROM RICHMOND HILL WAS PAINTED FROM NEAR THE TOP END OF PETERSHAM COMMON, BETWEEN THE STAR AND GARTER HOTEL AND WICK HOUSE, A FAVOURITE VIEWPOINT OF ARTISTS IN THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES WHICH TODAY IS OBSCURED BY TREES AND UNDERGROWTH. THE PETERSHAM ALMSHOUSES ARE VISIBLE IN THE CENTRE OF THE FOREGROUND, WITH NIGHTINGALE COTTAGE IN THE TREES ON THE RIGHT.