677 - W. WATTS (1752-1851), Country house near Richmond in Surrey, 1781, Etching

W. WATTS (1752-1851), Country house near Richmond in Surrey, 1781, Etching William Watts (1752 - 1851 ): Country house near Richmond in Surrey Sir Charles Asgill's country house near Richmond in Surrey with boats on the river, 1781, Etching Technique: Etching on Paper Impression Quality: Excellent, harmonious print. Inscription: Lower right signed in the printing plate: "W. Watts delin.t et sculp.t". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "The Seat of Sir Charles Asgill Bar.t near Richmond in Surry. / Published as the Act directs, Sep.r 1, 1781, by W. Watts, Chelsea.". Date: 1781 Description: View of a detached, symmetrically laid out country house on a riverbank. The two-storey building with a high hipped roof stands on a raised lawn and is framed by dense trees. Several boats animate the water in the foreground: a moored sailing boat with standing figures on the left, a small rowing boat in the centre and a long boat with several occupants and a flag on the right. Small staffage figures walk along the riverside path. The composition combines architecture and river landscape in a calm balance. Delicate parallel and cross-hatching model clouds, water and foliage. Visual axes lead from the water to the house as the pictorial centre. Source: William Watts (1752 -1851 ) The seats of the nobility and gentry, in a collection of the most interesting and picturesque views, 1779 | Book, Architecture Keywords: Country house; Villa; Riverside; Richmond; Surrey; Boat; Sailboat; Rowing boat; Shore path; Staffage figures; Trees; Parkland; Architectural view; Riverscape; Flag; Print graphic; Hatching; Cloudy sky; 18th century; Classicism; Architecture; United Kingdom; Size: Paper: 20,2 cm x 23,9 cm (8 x 9,4 in), Plate: 15,6 cm x 19,9 cm (6,1 x 7,8 in), Depiction: 12,5 cm x 18,2 cm (4,9 x 7,2 in) Condition: Defective condition. Slightly browned sheet with somewhat uneven paper ageing, occasional small stains and margin discolouration; wide margins present. The lower left corner of the sheet has a pale liquid stain. Some delicate scratches in the image.