John White Abbott

Inscribed verso: Nutwell.Oct.24th 1796, pen and grey ink and watercolour over traces of pencil
11.2 x 18 cm.; 4 3/8 x 7 1/8 inches

Provenance
Abbot and Holder Ltd.;
Private collection U.K. until 2024

Abbott was one of the best amateur watercolourists of the late eighteenth century. A surgeon and apothecary, he lived in Exeter until 1825. He exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy from 1793, receiving contemporary acclaim for the style of his work which owes much to his teacher Francis Towne. The artist John Downman said that ‘he prefers his drawings before his paintings, as they are done with more spirit’ (J. Farington, Diary 26 June 1804; vol. VI, p. 2362).

Nutwell Court is in east Devon near Lympstone overlooking the Exe estuary. Owned by Sir Francis Henry Drake, 5th Bt. (1723-1794) the estate was planted with fig trees in 1752, cedars in 1754, and laurels and evergreen oaks in 1755. By 1756 there were grape vines, a raspberry tree, a strawberry tree, a weeping willow, plane trees, cypresses, Newfoundland firs, larch trees, and a cistus. Further planting followed with black poplars, apricot trees, orange trees, Weymouth pines, myrtle and Scotch pines. Nutwell Court was built by 2nd Lord Heathfield (d. 1813) who discouraged visitors.