|
The collection in 1840
|
|
We last month noticed a gallery of modern paintings, of extent and value unequalled in Great Britain, and probably in the world: we have now to describe a collection of English drawings, to which the remark may as justly apply ... The drawings by Turner combine in large proportion of his best works; there are above two hundred of them, and not one of an inferior character. Nearly all have been engraved - as illustrations of 'Cooke's Coast Scenery', the novels of Scott, Cadell's edition of the poems of Sir Walter - double interesting as copies of scenery pointed out to the painter by the poet, who travelled with him through all the places commemorated in the 'Lady of the Lake', 'Rokeby' &c.&c. Many of them have additions omitted in the prints, communicating the historical events to which the poetry bears reference and which are so conceived and executed as to give a new idea of the rich fancy of Mr Turner.
The Arts Union, No. 3, April, 1839 Most of the Turner paintings in the Windus collection were sold during the owner's lifetime. Sadly BG Windus did not leave any bequests to public collections and his paintings are now scattered around the world in art galleries and private collections.
For the sales of works from the Windus Collection conducted at Christie's click here |
The photograph above shows the Library which BG Windus added to house his collection of paintings by JM W Turner.
According to Ruskin, Windus had a 'cheerful little villa, with low rooms on the ground floor opening pleasantly into each other, like a sort of grouped conservatory, between his front and back gardens; their walls beset, but not crowded , with Turner drawings of the England series'. 
|
The collection is listed below with links to the various publications in which the paintings appeared.
Hastings from the sea
Lake Albano
Saumur
|
In 1840 William Robinson listed many of the paintings in the Windus collection in his volume The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Tottenham: 1. A beautiful drawing of Hastings, from the Sea, intended /or a work under the auspices of John Fuller, Esq., of Rose Hill, Sussex, but not engraved 2 & 3. A Storm, and A Calm — very fine drawings; the latter engraved under the title of Margate — Sunrise — Whiting Fishing 4. Twilight — Folkestone — Smugglers creeping up. Spirits 5. Cologne — a very beautiful drawing, engraved by Odell 6. Florence 7. Lago Maggiore 8. Albano 9. Virginia Waters 10. Ditto, 11. Saumur, on the Loire 12. Nantes 13. Chateau of the Belle Gabrielle 14. Schaffhausen, on the Rhine |
Picturesque Views of
|
According to Ruskin writing in Praeterita,
BG Windus owned the entire series of Turner's illustrations to Scott, Byron, the South Coast and Finden's Bible, which he kept in portfolio stands. 
From Praeterita by John Ruskin p205
|
The Epicurean
Four vignettes for Moore’s prose
Poem of The Epicurean. |
The Keepsake
Florence
Beautiful drawings, engraved on a very small scale, for the Annual called the Keepsake.
|
And -
a Beautiful drawing of The Great Hall at Cassiobury, the seat of Lord Essex A very fine and early drawing of the artist of Cattle in the yard of an old castle, date 1801. Both untraced |
|
To find the location of each painting identified in the Windus collection to date
click below |
© COPYRIGHT 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
|
|