Thomas Uwins R.A. (1782-1857) - A girl platting straw, Hertfordshire

A beautifully drawn watercolour of a girl platting straw by Uwins from early in his career. The artist joined the Old Water-colour Society (O.W.S.) as an associate in 1809 so this work coincides with his development as a watercolourist. Uwins became a full member of the O.W.S. in 1813 and was a regular exhibitor there until 1818. Although focusing more on oil painting later in his career in an atempt to be elected as a Royal Academician (which was fulfilled in 1838), Uwins always retained his skill in watercolour. He was a constant member of the Chalon Sketching Society (1808-1851) from the late 1820s until early 1840s where the subject for each evening was painted in sepia watercolour.
 
Medium: watercolour over pencil on paper, signed l.r. 'UWINS Del.', watermarked: J. WHATMAN 1808, 32 x 22 cm, framed.
 
Provenance: Charles John, 5th Baron Dimsdale; By descent; Sotheby's Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century British Drawings and Watercolours sale, 11/11/1993, lot 213.
 
Exhibited: Buckinghamshire County Museum, Aylesbury, Thomas Uwins, May-June 1984.
 
Condition report: in very good overall condition. There are a couple of small foxing marks in the sky towards the upper left hand-corner of the watercolour. Please note, there are light reflections on the frame in the photographs.