Large original watercolour painting, c.1780. Circle of Francis Grose, antiquarian. Sotheby's London

Circle of Captain Francis Grose, circa 1780.

The Corn Mill at Wandsworth, Surrey.

The Mill at Wandsworth (south bank of the Thames, near Wimbledon Common) stood to the east of the parish church, and survived until the mid-nineteenth century. The river in the foreground is the Wandle - after which Wandsworth took its name.

The painting itself measures 26.5 x 38 cm.

Good condition.

Wandsworth is now part of Greater London - but in Grose's day, it was semi-rural.

Grose lived in Wandsworth, and you may view a picture of his house if you Google 'Francis Grose' and 'Wandsworth'.

Similar scenes including the corn mill and from the circle of Francis Grose exist. Google 'windmill' or 'corn mill' and 'Wandsworth'.

Two pictures of the corn mill are described in the catalogue of a dispersal sale of the collection of Dudley Snelgrove, F.S.A. (Sotheby's, London, 19 November 1992). I have included a few images from the catalogue - but please note that the catalogue itself is not for sale and is included for reference purposes only.

A label on the back of the backing board of this painting indicates that the painting was 'From the Dudley Snelgrove collection, Sotheby's, 19/11/92'.

On the history of the Wandsworth corn mills, read: https://www.wimbledonwindmill.org.uk/history

Provenance: Some years ago, I began collecting materials related to Francis Grose, in his day a renowned antiquarian, lexicographer, folklorist, and friend of the Scots poet, Robert Burns. This painting was acquired from a dealer in England. My collecting habits have moved in a different direction and so I am disposing of what I acquired at a fraction of the prices I paid. Your chance to own an original 250-year-old English watercolour. Please research Francis Grose online - you will find him a fascinating character. You might start here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Grose