FDA-D.209-2010

Object number

FDA-D.209-2010

Object type

drawing

Title

The Fourth of June: Procession of Boats Below Windsor Castle

Title Type

assigned by cataloguer

Comments

Eton boys are seen rowing on the river Thames below Windsor Castle. All around are boats crowded with cheering onlookers and throngs of spectators on the riverbanks. This impressive watercolour shows the Procession of Boats (also at times called the Fourth of June Regatta) that continues to be the highlight of Eton’s Fourth of June celebrations today. The work was painted in the 1830s by William Evans, the second and best-known member of the Evans family to serve as Drawing Master at Eton College. Four generations of his family would hold the post successively over a period of more than 100 years.

An aquatint print of this scene, engraved by Charles Lewis (1808-1880) and published in April 1837, has made this one of the most recognised works by Evans. There is also a watercolour sketch for the composition in the Eton College Collections.

Other number

CL 218

Content (place)

Windsor Castle

Dimensions

height (sight size): 637mm
width (sight size): 885mm
height (actual size): 660mm
width (actual size): 910mm

Materials & techniques note

Watercolour and bodycolour over pencil on paper

Physical description

Modern gilt frame

Person

Evans, William, 1798 - 1877 (Artist)

Object history note

Provenance: Collection of Miss Nancy Radcliffe Platt; by whom presented to Eton College in memory of the donor's brother, John Roodhurst Platt (Captain of the Oppidans in 1909), in 1975

Exhibited: 'William Evans of Eton', Brewhouse Gallery, Eton College, 1998, catalogue no.33