Ref: 2066

Abraham Wivell, circa 1820 A good drawing of Charles Monro Esq., in profile to the right pencil on paper, signed on the wood on the reverse, the paper inscribed on the reverse Charles Monro Esq/. of Chandos Street/ Cavendish Square/Chairman of the Regents Canal Company/ obeit 1821 in rectangular gilded wood frame

Dimensions: oval, 4 1/4 inches high

Additional Information:

Wivell started his life as a shoemaker then a wig maker. He took up art and displayed his miniatures in the window with the wigs. Northcote encouraged him in his art. He exhibited at the R.A., in 1822 and known to have painted the portraits of nearly 200 MP. for a view of the interior of the House of Commons. The Regent's Canal was built to link the Grand Junction Canal's Paddington Arm, which opened in 1801, with the Thames at Limehouse. One of the directors of the canal company was the famous architect John Nash. Nash was friendly with the Prince Regent, later King George IV, who allowed the use of his name for the project. The Regent's Canal Act was passed in 1812 and the company was formed to build and operate it. Nash's assistant, James Morgan, was appointed as the canal's Engineer. It was opened in two stages, from Paddington to Camden in 1816, and the rest of the canal in 1820.

Price:£500