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Lot Essay
Despite suffering from indifferent health, Prout undertook a number of extended tours through Europe during the 1820s, including in 1829 as far as Prague. This trip was undertaken shortly after the artist was appointed 'Painter in Water-colour in Ordinary to the King' and was partly to find new and interesting subjects to fulfil King George IV's request for drawings.
Whilst in the city Prout made a number of detailed on-the-spot pencil drawings which served as the basis for the highly finished watercolours executed in his studio on his return. Seventeen such drawings were sold at auction following his death in 1852 and the pencil study for the view of the Old Town Square is now in Birmingham City Art Gallery.
In 1833, Prout published his Facsimile of Sketches made in Flanders and Germany, which included five lithographs of Prague including one based on the watercolour of the Old Town Square. This publication was amongst the earliest of the folios of views of foreign subjects which became so popular during the century and proved influential on a number of Prout's contemporaries such as John Ruskin, Thomas Shotter Boys and David Roberts (lot 103).
Whilst in the city Prout made a number of detailed on-the-spot pencil drawings which served as the basis for the highly finished watercolours executed in his studio on his return. Seventeen such drawings were sold at auction following his death in 1852 and the pencil study for the view of the Old Town Square is now in Birmingham City Art Gallery.
In 1833, Prout published his Facsimile of Sketches made in Flanders and Germany, which included five lithographs of Prague including one based on the watercolour of the Old Town Square. This publication was amongst the earliest of the folios of views of foreign subjects which became so popular during the century and proved influential on a number of Prout's contemporaries such as John Ruskin, Thomas Shotter Boys and David Roberts (lot 103).