Architecture.- Malton the Elder (Thomas, English architectural draughtsman and writer on geometry, 1726-1801) Perspective studies of capitals and urns, pen and brown and greyish black inks, point of the brush, monochrome wash, on laid paper without visible watermark, ruled brown ink border, sheet 305 x 220 mm (12 x 8 3/4 in), tipped at edges onto window mount support, minor surface dirt and light browning, unframed, [circa 1770-1775]

Provenance:
Purchased by the present owners circa 1980s

Private collection, South West England

⁂ An original sheet of preliminary designs for plate XXII of Malton's 'A Compleat Treatise On Perspective, In Theory And Practice', published in 1775. Another comparable perspective drawing by Malton was previously sold by Colnaghi in 1979, and it would appear that the present sheet came from the same source. The Colnaghi sheet was a perspective drawing of a desk and chair, and was sold at Christie's New York in 2011 [see Old Master & 19th Century Paintings, Drawings & Watercolors Part II, 26th January 2011, lot 302]. Tate hold two perspective drawings by J.M.W. Turner, which are copies after sections of the present sheet; Turner used these for his lectures as Professor of Perspective at the Royal Academy, circa 1810 [see acc.no D17096/ Turner Bequest CXCV 125 and D17073/ Turner Bequest CXCV 103].