Thomas Rowlandson (London 1756-1827)
Grand Place, Brussels
signed and dated 'Rowlandson 1802' (lower right) and inscribed 'Grande Place à Brussells [sic]' (lower left)
pencil, pen and watercolour on paper
36.1 x 52.1cm (14 3/16 x 20 1/2in).
Footnotes:
Provenance
W. Bates (1824-1884) (L. 26204)
His sale, Sotheby's, London, 19 January 1887 (sold for £20 9s 6d, according to Frits Lugt)
Collection of Frederick Swift, Great Missenden, Bucks (according to a label on the reverse)
Private Collection, USA
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: *
* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.

The sheet has been laid onto card and sandwich mounted. It is possible to see a watermark upper left, which probably reads Whatman/Turkey Mill. The sheet is faded and there is some discolouration to the paper. There are two light spots just left of the centre of the sky which may have been caused by treatment of foxing in the past. There are also some faint dappled brown marks in the building lower right. There is a scratch through the inscription and there are some tiny nicks showing as white spots which may have been caused by broken glass; there is also a small area of disturbance in the skirt of the central woman in a yellow hat.