Lot Details
Lot 194
PRINSEP, WILLIAM; D'OYLY, CHARLES Sketchbook and commonplace book of William Prinsep.
Various locations [including Calcutta, India]; from various dated designs, in use 1811-1817. Period red morocco, brass clasp, marbled endpapers. 6 1/8 x 3 3/4 inches (15.5 x 9.5 cm); 86 ff., with numerous sketches, variously in graphite or ink, some with applied color, one initialled "W.P." and dated 1811. A 9 ff. section of Indian sketches includes two fine sketches of riders mounted on elephants, both dated 1 July 1817 and initialled "C.D." (for Charles D'Oyly), and a series of related sketches of Indian architecture, natives etc. by either D'Oyly or Prinsep. Light binding wear congruent with a travelling notebook; the numeral "I" on paper affixed to the head of the spine. With Prinsep's book-label "Wm. Prinsep".
William Prinsep was a merchant by profession, but a very competent amateur artist by avocation. Both he and D'Oyly were friendly with, and studied under George ("Chinese") Chinnery. The D'Oyly sketches here are dated 1817, the first year that Prinsep was in Calcutta, where he lived until 1842, and so date from an early meeting of the two men. The last five leaves contain a travel itinerary in the southwest of England (it is unclear if these are in Prinsep's hand).
C Estate of Arnold 'Jake' Johnson
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