Lot 90: John Cleveley II (British, 1747-1786) The Pra?a do Comércio, Lisbon, commonly known as Black Horse Square, and named thus by nineteenth century English visitors to the Portuguese capital

The Pra?a do Comércio, Lisbon, commonly known as Black Horse Square, and named thus by nineteenth century English visitors to the Portuguese capital
signed 'Jno Clevely Junr' (lower left)
pen, ink, grey wash and watercolour
28 x 47cm (11 x 18 1/2in).

John Cleveley was the son of John Cleveley (c.1712-1777) a shipwright and painter. Whilst living at Deptford, John Cleveley the younger, met Paul Sandby, who was then chief drawing master at the royal military academy at Woolwich and from whom he learnt the art of painting watercolours. In 1772 Cleveley was chosen as draughtsman to Sir Joseph Banks's expedition to the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Iceland, to draw sketches, which he afterwards worked up into water-colours. Several of these are in the collection of the British Museum.
His visit to Portugal appears to date from August 1775 to January 1776. This trip provided subjects for his Royal Academy exhibits of 1777 and 1778. A set of six various views of the Tagus in watercolour were sold at Bonhams, lot 31, 6th June, 2006 (£15,600).