Martorell with the bridge of Hannibal, Catalonia, E. Ellis or A.A. Ellis (fl. 1850 - 75)

E. Ellis or A.A. Ellis (fl. 1850 - 75)

Martorell with the bridge of Hannibal, Catalonia

Inscribed verso: Martoral with the bridge of Hannibal, watercolour one pencil on card, with the original wash line border.

The bridge is also known as the Puente del Diabolo or the Sant Bartomeu bridge and crosses the river Llobregat. It has been rebuilt several times, having been first built in the 2nd century AD, rebuilt in 1289 and again in 1963, after it was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and has become the symbol of the city.

Provenance
Captain Sir Charles Robert Bignold (1892-1970), of Norwich;
The Bignold Library Collection of colour-plate books, Sotheby’s 15-16 November 1971, lot 351 (part lot), bought by the Chippendale workshops for £300

Captain Sir Charles Bignold’s distinguished collection of books was sold at Sotheby’s as a single owner sale in November 1971 on the instructions of Lady Bignold, his widow. 

His collection included several other books about Spain, including Rev. William Bradford’s ‘Sketches of the Country, Character and Costume of Portugal and Spain in 1808 and 1809', two editions of Don Quixote and Lt. George Cockburn’s ‘A voyage to Cadiz and Gibraltar.. ‘. His ancestor Thomas Bignold founded the Norwich Union Insurance company in 1797.

The Ellises were a father and daughter who travelled extensively in the British Isles and Europe- in France, Switzerland and Italy as well as Spain from 1850-75, recording their travels by sketching in watercolour. It is not known which hand was responsible for this group of watercolours of Spain. In the Bignold sale the collection was bound as a set in black morocco leather.

Price

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance