William Hamilton R.A.

Commissioned by Robert Bowyer (1758-1834), circa 1793, as an illustration to David Hume's Illustrated History of England, for his Historic Gallery at Schomberg House, 87 Pall Mall;
Bowyer's Historic Gallery sale, London, Peter Cox, 30 May 1807, lot 40;
John Green, Dell Lodge, Blackheath;
His sale, 23-26 April 1830, lot 59 (bt. by Henry Bone for Joseph Neeld);
Thence by descent through Captain L. W. Neeld, Grittleton House, Gloucestershire to Miss C. K. Neeld;
By whom sold, London, Christie's, 16 November 1962, lot 85 (to Leary);
Brian Leary;
By whom sold anonymously, London, Sotheby's , 12 July 1989, lot 98.

London, Historic Gallery, Schomberg House, 87 Pall Mall, 1793, no. 9, and 1795, no. 17.

Catalogue of Pictures painted for Mr. Bowyer's magnificent edition of Hume's Illustrated History of England (Historic Gallery, Pall Mall), no. 10;
T. S. R. Boase, 'Illustrations of the English Bible,' Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. XXV, 1962;
T. S. R. Boase, 'Macklin and Bowyer,' Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. XXVI, 1963, pp. 174 & 177;
R. W. Hutton, Robert Bowyer and the Historic Gallery, unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Chicago, Illinois, 6 vols, 1992, vol. 2, part 3, pp. 421-5, cat. no. 3.

ENGRAVED
By Jean Marie Delatre, published by Bowyer, 1795, and in 1806 in his publication of David Hume's Illustrated History of England.

The painting appears to be in very good condition, with no apparent damage or loss of paint. It has been sensitively lined, without compromising the surface of the paint, which retains its original body and impasto, especially in the highlights. There is some minor craquelure, consistent with the paintings age, and a few small areas of minor bitumen separation in the darker pigments of the right hand main figure's costume, as well as in the table cloth, lower centre. There is further minor craquelure in the robes of the left hand figure. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals some minor scattered retouching in the background in the upper section of the painting, as well as retouching to the bitumen separation and craquelure previously mentioned. There is retouching to craquelure down the right hand side in the dark pigments, and in the dark areas around the figures' feet. Some very minor retouches can be seen here and there in foreground and there is some inpainting of the craquelure at lower right in the area of the signature. Overall the picture is in very good condition, retaining much of the original quality of the paint, and is ready to hang. Offered in a carved and gilded wood frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Originally taken from ancient legend, the story of Rowena and Vortigern was first recounted in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written in the first half of the 12^th century. It tells of the fate of Vortigern, a fifth-century Saxon king who was betrayed by Hengist, king of the Jutes in 'the night of the long knives', only to be seduced by, and eventually marry, his daughter, Rowena.