Henry Roderick Newman (1843-1917)
Henry Roderick Newman (1843-1917)

Porta dei Canonici, Duomo, Florence

Details
Henry Roderick Newman (1843-1917)
Porta dei Canonici, Duomo, Florence
signed and dated 'HR Newman/1879/Florence' (lower left)
watercolor on paper
30¾ x 25½ in. (78.1 x 64.8 cm.)
Provenance
The artist.
John J. Donaldson, New York, acquired from the above, circa 1880.
Private collection, circa 1957-58.
By descent to the present owner.
Exhibited
(Possibly) London, Royal Academy of Arts, 1879, no. 1078.

Lot Essay

The rich palette, masterful composition and keen attention to detail of Porta dei Canonici, Duomo, Florence make it one of Henry Roderick Newman's most magnificent architectural works. The artist moved to Florence, Italy in 1872 and was immediately inspired by the stunning architecture and masterworks by Giotto, Masaccio, and Fra Angelico. The present work depicts the Porta dei Canonici on the south side of the Duomo cathedral and captures the spirit and tenor of the famed city. In 1880, Newman showed the present work to John Ruskin, who offered to buy the picture for 200 guineas. The artist instead chose to sell the work to Mr. John J. Donaldson of New York. Subsequently, in 1881 Ruskin commissioned a replica of the present work entitled The South Door of the Duomo, which is presently in the Ruskin Gallery, Collection of the Guild of St. George, Sheffield, England

We wish to thank Royal W. Leith for his assistance with cataloguing this lot.

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