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William Henry Hunt, A Smuggler, c. 1831-33

A Smuggler

Private collection

Watercolor and gum arabic heightened with white

8 X 6.25 in., 20 X 16 cm.

Signed, l.l., W HUNT

 

Provenance:

(S) Edinburgh, Scotland, Lyon & Turnbull, 13 March 2019, Lot 9 (P) £700* $923*

 

The same model appears in a handful of other watercolors by Hunt. One, showing a full length reclining image, has traditionally been known under the title, A Smuggler and is dated 1832. A closely related watercolor, The Head of a Mulatto, is dated 1833. Hunt exhibited a number of works at the Spring Exhibitions of the Society of Painters in Water-Colours in 1831 through 1833 with titles such as Study of a Head, A Smuggler of Hastings, and Head of a Smuggler. It is therefore very likely that the present work was painted around 1831-1833 in Hastings, England and that the model was one of the fishermen, smugglers, and other residents with whom Hunt is known to have associated during his winter retreats to the South Coast.

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Uploaded on March 13, 2019