19th century AD. A study of St Albans Abbey, Hertfordshire, with figures in foreground, lightly rendered in ink and pen on paper, with faint signature at bottom left; mounted and held in a later glazed frame with label to reverse reading 'Alexander Monro (1759-1833) / Pen and ink / St Albans Abbey' in three lines (although the dates given here incorrectly are for his father, Dr Thomas Monro"). 3.30 kg, 64 x 54cm frame (image 43 x 34cm) (25 x 21 1/4 (17 x 13 1/4)"). Property of a Hertfordshire lady; by inheritance; formerly with David Miller. The Monro family in London (1728–1882) were five generations of physicians, four of whom practised at the Bethlem Hospital (known as Bedlam, an asylum for the insane"). Alexander Monro (1802–1844) was the son of Dr Thomas Monro (1759–1833) and became known for his informal 'Monro Academy' of drawing. Thomas had followed a career as a physician, but his real passion was art and it was at his home at Adelphi Terrace on the banks of the Thames that, from 1794, he would host young artists on winter Friday evenings, retaining their work and giving them three and sixpence and a supper of oysters. Many of these young students would become the leading artists of their day; including, most notably, J.M.W. Turner and John Girtin, along with John Linnell, John Sell Cotman, Peter de Wint, William Henry Hunt, Joshua Cristall and John Varley, among others. Monro's house became a studio turning out sketches, often in blue-grey wash and monochrome, copied from drawings by more established artists, principally John Robert Cozens, William Alexander, Henry Edridge, Thomas Hearn and Monro's neighbour, John Henderson. Monro taught the young artists accuracy in drawing, accompanying them on outdoor sketching trips and teaching them to see from Nature, as well as giving them the opportunity to share ideas with each other. As such, Thomas Monro played a key role in the development of the styles of the young artists. John Ruskin went so far as to say that Thomas Monro was Turner's true master and his 'Academy' can be seen as a catalyst in the change of style in watercolours that took place around the beginning of the 19th century. Three of Monro's sons were also talented artists - Alexander Monro (1802–1844), John Monro (1801–1880), and Henry Monro (1791–1814"). This drawing is typical of Alexander's work, in subject matter, style and medium, with other very similar examples recorded. [No Reserve]

Fine condition; some light spotting.