Captain Francis Grose (1731-1791) - Drogheda Castle, East Gate

Captain Francis Grose was a topographical draughtsman who was famous for publishing the 18th century's largest series of illustrations of ancient monuments of the British Isles. Roughly a thousand plates were produced and appeared in 10 volumes. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Society of Artists before taking an interest in medieval and classical antiquities. Grose became close friends to Robert Burns in 1789, whom Grose inspured to write 'Tam o'Shanter'. On his death Grose's family sold many of his drawings and watercolours which this example may have been one.
 
Captain Grose made frequent sketching tours, often with other amateurs, such as J. Nixon or Thomas Pennant and M. Griffith with whom he visited the Isle of Man in 1774. In 1789 he toured Scotland, and he died of an apoplectic fit at Horace Hone's house in Dublin, in the middle of an Irish tour. [1]
 
This architectural drawing of the East Gate of Drogheda Castle in Ireland comes from the prestigious Iolo Williams collection. Williams has inscribed below the picture 'apparently not engraved. Grose was at Drogheda in company with Thomas Cocking his servant, also an artist, in 1791. IAW'. This would have been on Grose's final tour of Ireland just before his death.
 
Medium: pencil on paper with sepia wash, signed l.r. 'by Cap Grose', inscribed l.l. 'Drogheda', 18.3 x 23.3cm (picture size), mounted.
 
Literature:
 
[1] Huon Mallieu (2002), 'The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920: Volume I A-L', Antique Collectors Club: Woodbridge, pp.285-286. See entry on artist.
 
Provenance: Iolo Williams Collection.
 
Condition report: in good condition for its age. A small amount of time staining (for example above the castle) and light creasing. Please see photographs.