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A collection of finished preparatory drawings, several for prize-winning paintings, by the accomplished English artist John Wood (1801–1870), with Biblical, Classical, and historical subjects. According to Artnet, no album of Wood’s drawings has appeared at auction since 1994 (Sotheby’s).

The son of an artist and drawing-master, Wood ‘studied in Henry Sass’s academy and, from 1819, at the Royal Academy, where in 1825 he was awarded the gold medal for his painting Joseph Expounding the Dreams of the Chief Butler and Baker. The next year he exhibited Psyche Wafted by Zephyrs … which was also well received. His early works were praised for displaying invention and design, and he gained a considerable, if short-lived, reputation. In 1834 he was awarded a substantial commission for the altarpiece of St James’s Church, Bermondsey, London, and in 1836 received a prize at Manchester for his painting Elizabeth in the Tower. He continued to exhibit at the Royal Academy and British Institution until 1862’ (ODNB). All of these works are represented here, alongside depictions of the death of Abel, the baptism of Christ, and an attractive self-portrait of the artist.

Contents:
1. ‘Adam and Eve lamenting over the dead body of Abel. Gold medal model at the Society of Arts, 1822’; pencil and ink on paper, signed ‘John Wood Sculpt. 1821’ (410 x 290 mm); mounted on card (500 x 375 mm); a little light foxing. The painting is at Shipley Art Gallery.

2. ‘Joseph expounding the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief butler and baker in prison. Gold medal picture at the Royal Academy, 1825’; pen and ink over pencil on paper (the drawing 370 x 290 mm, the caption below 60 x 225 mm); mounted on card (565 x 440 mm); light marks to mount. The painting is at Rhode Island School of Design Museum.

3. ‘Psyche wafted by Zephyrs to the Valley of Pleasure. The original design by John Wood made at a Sketching Society’; pencil and wash on paper, signed ‘John Wood’ (290 x 344 mm); mounted on card signed ‘John Wood’, inscribed by Wood in pencil on the back (420 x 470 mm); a few small, light marks to mount. Undated but 1826. The painting is at Sir John Soane’s Museum.

4. ‘Group included for the picture of Queen Elizabeth in the Tower after the death of her sister Queen Mary – John Wood invt’; pen and wash on paper, signed ‘John Wood Pinx.’ (457 x 345 mm); backed with thick grey paper (510 x 397 mm), inscribed by Wood in pencil on the back; horizontal, central crease. Undated but 1836.

5. Self-portrait of Wood, seated, three-quarter length; pencil with pale pink highlighting on paper, signed ‘John Wood 1840’ (255 x 197 mm); backed with thick paper, signed in black ink ‘John Wood’ (537 x 380 mm); smalls marks to portrait, some light foxing.

6. ‘The Ascension of Our Saviour. The Bermondsey Altarpiece. John Wood delt. invt. 1845’; pen and wash on thick paper, signed ‘John Wood invt.’ (600 x 353 mm), inscribed by Wood in pencil on the back; some creasing at top and bottom.

7. The Ascension; pen and ink on thin paper watermarked ‘Whatman 1841’ (280 x 125 mm); with an autograph letter signed ‘B. Drew’ from Bermondsey, dated 9 January 1845, informing Wood that his ‘sketch for a painting of the Ascension for the church of St James in this parish’ has been selected, and recommending a meeting with the trustees (1 p., 223 x 184 mm); mounted on card (720 x 423 mm); some browning to mount.

8. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan; pen and ink over pencil on thin paper, signed ‘John Wood invt. 1846’ (230 x 310 mm), backed with card; with an autograph letter signed ‘Chas Hill Ree’ from the Chinese Collection Room, Hyde Park Corner, London, dated 11 June 1847, informing Wood that his painting has been awarded the £1000 prize for ‘the best picture … in the Exhibition’ (1 p., 230 x 185 mm); mounted on card (720 x 520 mm); sketch partly detached, some light marks to mount.