[The room in which Shakespeare was born] [graphic] / W. Underhill.

[The room in which Shakespeare was born] [graphic] / W. Underhill.

1849.

1 drawing : watercolor ; 237 x 373 mm

paper

Artist: Artist is possibly William Underhill (ex. 1848-1896), who is noted in most art biographical sources as a genre painter. Mallalieu, in his entry for Frederick Thomas Underhill, notes William (possibly the father or uncle of Frederick Thomas) as being born in Birmingham, living in London and painting landscapes, coastal scenes and genre pictures, mostly in oils. Graves notes William Underhill as exhibiting at the RA 1849-1864 and gives a Camden Town address for him. According to this information Underhill seems to have been a professional painter. This item has more of an amateur's look about it.

Provenance: Drawing was purchased along with a number of other items on Shakespearean subjects by other artists, most by J. M. Wright. The Folgers bought this Shakespearean collection from Maggs Bros. in Dec. of 1922. Unfortunately the Maggs descriptions of these, listed as 'three parcels of drawings' on the invoice, are no longer found in the case file. (Formerly ART Inv. 286 no.4).

Subject: Drawing is colored mostly in greys and browns with the interior of the room being painted on the entire surface of the paper. The room is pictured with stone flooring and beamed walls and ceilings. A woman is seated in a chair against the left wall and a man and woman are standing at the back right of the room. There is a window on the far back wall.

Drawing has been removed from backing which had penciled notes including 'The room in which Shakespeare was born, sketch by W. Underhill of Birmingham. taken in 1849' and penciled letters 't/t/-', probably a bookseller's notation. Item is signed in lower left, 'W. Underhill. Birm...1849'.

Great Britain -- England.

ART Box U55 no.1 (size L)

cs1112