FDA-D.275-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-D.275-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
A Military Review in the Park at Windsor, with King George III
Title Type
assigned by cataloguer
Comments
Born in Switzerland, Grimm worked as a landscape painter in his native country and in France before coming to England in 1768. The accuracy and clarity of his draughtmanship found much favour among patrons interested in architecture and topography and he was commissioned by the Society of Antiquaries, and by many private clients, including Sir William Burrell, whose collections are now in the British Library, and Dr Richard Gough, who assembled forty volumes of material now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Among the many drawings made for the cleric Dr Richard Kaye (also now in the British Library) are two drawings of Montem at Eton dated 'May1793'. The present drawing has also been described as a Montem, but the figures in the procession are only in uniform, not in the mixed fancy dress of the traditional pageant. The event must depict one of the many gatherings of volunteers organised in response to the Napoleonic threat. Despite its damaged condition (caused by the application of a thick varnish which was later removed), Grimm's drawing gives a vivid impression of life at Windsor in a time of national emergency.
Among the many drawings made for the cleric Dr Richard Kaye (also now in the British Library) are two drawings of Montem at Eton dated 'May1793'. The present drawing has also been described as a Montem, but the figures in the procession are only in uniform, not in the mixed fancy dress of the traditional pageant. The event must depict one of the many gatherings of volunteers organised in response to the Napoleonic threat. Despite its damaged condition (caused by the application of a thick varnish which was later removed), Grimm's drawing gives a vivid impression of life at Windsor in a time of national emergency.
Other number
CL 548
Description
Dimensions
height (actual size): 365mm
width (actual size): 536mm
width (actual size): 536mm
Inscription
Signed and dated, lower centre: 'S.H. Grimm Fecit 1793'
Materials & techniques note
Pencil, pen and grey ink and watercolour heightened with touches of bodycolour, varnished
Production
Person
Date
1793
History and association
Object history note
Exhibitions: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Art Gallery, 1997, Buckinghamshire Landscapes 1444 to 1997, catalogue number 7; 'A Genius for Watercolour', Christie’s, London, 6 to 24 January 2003, catalogue number 8
References
• Wilcox, T., A Genius for Watercolour; Watercolours from the Eton College Collection, Christie's exhibition catalogue, London, 2003 (p. 15), Catalogue number: 8
