Lot 253: FRANCIS STEVENS

(London 1781-1823 Exeter)
Halse, Somersetshire.

Bound volume with 14 drawings in brush and black ink and gray wash with white heightening on bluish gray paper mounted on wove paper, 1815-18. Each approximately 155x205 mm; 6 1/8x8 1/8 inches. Signed, initialed, titled and dated in ink on the title page, 11 of the drawings initialed and dated in ink; with a 1-page index and 1-page description of Halse by the artist in ink. With the artist's book plate on the front paste down. 1/2-red morocco and marbled paste board covers. The covers worn.

According to a note in the volume, Stevens trained in London with Paul Sandby Munn (1773-1845) and first appeared at the Royal Academy in 1804 (he joined the Watercolour Society 2 years later). He evidently died of a stroke at Exeter.

Views in the album include: General View of Halse; Cottage in the Lane Leading to the Moor; The Conduit and The Church among others.