| Abstract: Twenty-one sketch-books of Henry Wallis, 1869-1910 |
Henry Wallis (1830-1916) was an artist, ceramics expert and collector. He achieved acclaim as a painter with the exhibition of his portrait 'The Death of Chatterton' at the Royal Academy in 1856, and followed up his success with 'The Stonebreaker', which was exhibited in 1858. Although he continued to paint and exhibit, he became increasingly interested in archaeology and ceramics. He travelled extensively and became an authority on Persian, Egyptian, Greek and Byzantine ceramics. He wrote and illustrated twenty volumes on ceramics during the period 1885-1899. For further details see Dictionary of National Biography and Timothy Wilson's article, 'A Victorian artist as ceramic collector: the letters of Henry Wallis', parts 1-2, Journal of the History of Collections, 14, no.1 (2002) pp.139-159 and no.2 (2002) pp.231-269.
The sketch-books mostly contain sketches in pencil, with some sketches in black crayon, charcoal, chalk, pen-and-ink and watercolours. The sketches depict Italian paintings, Egyptian and Italian artefacts, architectural details from buildings, towns, landscapes, figures and animals. Many of the landscapes and street scenes are Egyptian and Italian.
Provenance as given by Campbell-Wilson (art dealers): Harold Wallis (1859-1933), son; Mary Wallis (died 1964), daughter-in-law; Vera Langley (1910-1988), cousin and then by direct descent.
Oxford, Bodleian Library [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Eng. d. 3552, fols. 1-2].
See catalogue of the papers of Henry Wallis and his son, Harold Wallis, 1846-1952 .
| Sketch-book containing pencil sketches and (fol. 6) pen-and-ink sketch of
paintings, figures, towns and landscapes, with (fols. 1-2, 50-1) some names and
addresses, 1869 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3414 Extent: 51 leaves, 17-45 blank Binding: Blind-ruled dark red morocco, with clasp and silver-point pencil in side loop; printed ticket inside front pastedown, 'Kerby & Son, 190, Oxford Street'; printed label inside front pastedown, 'Henry Penny's Patent Improved Metallic Books...' |
| Sketch-book containing pencil, charcoal and white chalk sketches of
English and Scottish landscapes (some identified), and some female nudes,
1870-7 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3552 Extent: 30 leaves Binding: Quarter black calf, black cloth boards, with loop for pencil and cloth fastening Separated Material: Four loose charcoal and white chalk sketches of trees, removed from this volume, are MS. Eng. c. 7065, fols. 36-9. |
| Note-book containing sketches and diary entries, made during several
visits to Italy, inscribed (fol. 1), 'Henry Wallis. 10a Adelphi Terrace, London.
W.C. 30, March. 1870', but later crossed through and two subsequent addresses
added, 1870-84 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3415 Extent: 186 leaves, 38-129 blank Binding: Blind-ruled dark red calf, marbled endpapers, printed ticket on end pastedown, 'J. Matthews Drew, Stationer, &c. 38, High Holborn, London' Scope and Content: Comprises
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| Sketch-book, inscribed inside upper board, 'H. Wallis. 19:8.74',
containing pencil sketches of figures in French 18th-cent. costume, landscapes,
rural scenes and animals, and (fols. 54v, 58v) two landscapes in pencil and coloured chalks,
1874-5 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3416 Extent: 70 leaves, 16-49 blank Binding: Beige cloth boards, with loop for pencil Separated Material: Six loose watercolours of figures in 18th-cent. costume, removed from this volume, are MS. Eng. 7065, fols. 40-5. |
| Sketch-book, inscribed (fol. 1), 'Henry Wallis 1877',
containing pencil sketches of Bruges and of rural
landscapes Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3417 Extent: 76 leaves, 42-64 blank Binding: Blind-ruled and -stamped dark red calf, with loop for pencil and pocket inside lower board Scope and Content: Comprises pencil sketches of
|
| Sketch-book containing pencil and black crayon sketches of Delft and Schevering, and other unidentified
sketches of architectural details, interiors, figures and paintings, with (fol.
11), a watercolour of Delft, 1879 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3553 Extent: 29 leaves Binding: Gilt-stamped quarter black calf, blue cloth boards, with loop for pencil |
| Sketch-book containing pencil and black crayon sketches of artefacts (with
written descriptions), and of Egypt, 1886 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3418 Extent: 40 leaves, 23-40 blank Binding: Black cloth boards |
| Sketch-book containing pencil and black crayon sketches of Egypt,
1887 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3554 Extent: 53 leaves, 22-48 blank Binding: Beige cloth boards, with loop for pencil and cloth fastening |
| Sketch-book containing sketches in pencil, black crayon, white chalk,
watercolours and gouache, of museum artefacts (with written descriptions), and of
landscapes in Egypt and Italy, 1887-9 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3419 Extent: 52 leaves Binding: Beige cloth boards, with loop for pencil and cloth fastening |
| Sketch-book containing pencil sketches of pottery and artefacts (with
written descriptions), and of landscapes in Egypt and Italy,
1890-2 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3420 Extent: 82 leaves, 13-69 blank Binding: Dark red calf, cloth fastening, patterned endpapers |
| Sketch-book containing pencil and black crayon sketches and (fols. 3, 6-9,
12, 19) watercolours of artefacts, buildings, interiors, ancient ruins and
landscapes in Egypt and Italy, 1891-3 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3555 Extent: 47 leaves Binding: Beige cloth boards, with loop for pencil and cloth fastening |
| Sketch-book containing pencil sketches of artefacts (with written
descriptions), and buildings in Italy and possibly in Egypt,
1894-1904 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3421 Extent: 50 leaves, 12-39 blank Binding: Blind-ruled beige cloth boards, with loop for pencil |
| Sketch-book containing pencil sketches of artefacts (with written
descriptions), and street scenes and landscapes in Egypt and Italy, and (fol.
34v) charcoal and white chalk sketch of a figure,
1900-1 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3422 Extent: 38 leaves Binding: Brown cloth boards, decorative stamp, 'Album' on front of upper board; stamped on end pastedown, 'Egisto Sborgi Cartoleria Artistica Fotografie Via Cerretani 8, Firenze' |
| Sketch-book containing pencil and black crayon sketches, and (fol. 41v) pen-and-ink sketch, of artefacts (with written
descriptions), architectural details and Italian landscapes,
1902-3 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3423 Extent: 42 leaves Binding: Beige cloth boards, with cloth fastening, printed label on front pastedown, 'No. 3. Sketch Book Of Artists' Cartridge Paper. Reeves & Sons, Ltd. London' Separated Material: A loose pencil sketch of artefacts in Padua 1906, removed from this volume, is MS. Eng. 7065, fol. 46. |
| Sketch-book containing pencil and black crayon sketches of artefacts, with
written notes, made during a visit to Italy, 1910 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3556 Extent: 39 leaves, 14-34 blank Binding: Brown cloth over cardboard, patterned endpapers, printed label on front pastedown, 'C. Tamburmi Milano Piazza Mentana 3 Cartoleria Tipografia Litografia Fab. Registri' |
| Sketch-book containing pencil and black crayon sketches of paintings,
artefacts, figures and landscapes, with notes on paintings, exhibitions and art
books, and names and addresses, n.d. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3424 Extent: 68 leaves Binding: Blind-ruled dark red morocco with brass clasp, loop for pencil, pocket at end and marbled endpapers |
| Sketch-book containing sketches in pencil, black crayon, charcoal, white
chalk, red chalk and pen-and-ink, depicting figures and paintings,
n.d. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3425 Extent: 27 leaves Binding: Quarter black calf, green cloth boards, with loop for pencil |
| Sketch-book containing sketches in pencil, black crayon, charcoal,
coloured chalk, pen-and-ink, watercolours and gouache, depicting figures, animals,
trees and plants, n.d. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3426 Extent: 36 leaves Binding: Blind-stamped quarter black calf, brown cloth boards, with loop for pencil Separated Material: Three loose pencil sketches of trees, removed from this volume, are MS. Eng. c. 7065, fols. 47-9. |
| Sketch-book containing pencil sketches and watercolours of plants and
paintings, n.d. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3557 Extent: 30 leaves, 8-26 blank Binding: Brown paper wrappers, printed label inside end wrapper, 'Sold by G. Cannon, Great Marlow' |
| Sketch-book containing sketches in pencil and black crayon, depicting
figures and buildings, n.d. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3558 Extent: 7 leaves Binding: Gilt-ruled half black calf, brown cloth boards, with loop for pencil Separated Material: Loose sketches of figures in pencil and white chalk, removed from this volume, are MS. Eng. 7065, fols. 50-63. |
| Sketch-book, blank except for short list on fol.1,
n.d. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3427 Extent: 42 leaves Binding: Blind-stamped tan calf, with brass clasp, printed ticket on end pastedown, 'Rowsells 31, Cheapside' |