Samuel Prout O.W.S (1783-1852) - The Croix de Pierre, Rouen

Samuel Prout first visited Normandy in 1819 and exhibited works from this tour at the O.W.S. (now the Royal Watercolour Society) in 1820. He likely also visited Normandy in 1820, 1826 and 1846. Interestingly, 'The Croix de Pierre' in Rouen was a favourite subject for the artist, with six exhibition pieces at the O.W.S. bearing this name (no. 250 in 1820, no. 84 in 1835, no.77 in 1839, no.68 in 1841, no. 95 in 1844 and no.51 in 1847). (1)
 
Bonhams sold a work with this title in 2006 (6/6/2006, lot 42) that is very similar. The main difference between the Bonhams work and ours is the angle and perspective that Prout has used for the watercolour. Our work is a much closer perspective which makes the Croix de Pierre appear to be larger. Unfortunately, Prout has only signed the picture and not dated it. However, it is a similar size to exhibition pieces he produced and due to the title of this work being used on six occasions at the O.W.S. it is highly likely this was produced for one of those exhibitions.
 
Medium: watercolour on paper.
 
Signed 'S PROUT' l.l., 38.5 x 27 cm, framed.
 
(1) Lockett, Richard (1985) 'Samuel Prout (1783-1852)', exhibition catalogue: VAM, Butler & Taner Ltd: London.