THOMAS MARTIN RANDALL (1786-1859) VIEW OF DERBY FROM THE CANAL watercolour

THOMAS MARTIN RANDALL (1786-1859) VIEW OF DERBY FROM THE CANAL watercolour, en grisaille, 16.5 x 24cmProvenance: The artist's widow Louisa (Shipley, nee West, d1847) thence by descent in the West family to Mrs J Launder, from whom acquired by the present vendor, c1980.Exhibited: On loan to Clive House Museum, Shrewsbury until 1997.Illustrated: Twitchett (J), Derby Porcelain, 1980, fig 273.Literature: Edmundson (R S), Thomas Martin Randall; China Decorator and Manufacturer, NCS Journal 1993, p26.This unique watercolour is of especial interest as it lends credence to the statement by John Randall (1810-1910) that in c1805-07 when he would have been aged about 20, T M Randall "went to Derby.... and afterwards to Pinxton". The prominent needle like landmark in the present watercolour is the Shot Tower, erected in 1809. In that year, or possibly one or two years later, Randall left for London to work as an independent decorator of porcelain for, and later in partnership with, Richard Robins.