Although Peter Anson is well known for his watercolour paintings, less well known perhaps are his drawings, particularly his pen and ink work. It was often of excellent quality, with a fine style and typical attention to detail and accuracy. It is only comparatively recently that some of these drawings have even been publicly displayed; none of those on this page have previously been shown at all.
On close examination, the drawings fall broadly into three categories.
THE FIRST group includes those which are 'unfinished paintings' - Anson sometimes made a fairly detailed pen drawing which was subsequently coloured in.
This drawing has the caption 'Inisheer, Aran National Museum'. There is no date, but some very faintly pencilled instructions as to colours on the trousers ('grey') and jersey ('blue'). It seems likely that this was intended to be painted at a later date.
Above (top) is a part of a pen-and-ink drawing which has subsequently been painted. There are some notes along the bottom and right margins (bottom) which, as well as the name of the boat, location, and date, include detailed instructions as to colours.
THE SECOND category of drawings are those which were probably only ever intended to remain as drawings, although there is a gradation into paintings as some include either solid filled-in areas, or ink washes - the overall effect of which is very pleasing.
This pencil sketch bears the caption 'Gravesend 23.6.31'. It is likely that this was never intended to be painted.
Typical pen/ink sketch, undated, 'At the Wheel'.
Pen/ink wash, with almost the quality of a black-and-white photograph. Dungarvan, 1945.
Many of Anson's drawings were of a religious theme. This one, produced for 'A Pilgrim's Sketch Book', is of the Basilica of S. Antonio, Padua, Italy.
THE THIRD category is of drawings which were made, in conjunction with researches, onto scraps of paper in notebooks and elsewhere. They often appear as if made in a hurry, and some have less attention to detail and technical accuracy than is usual with much of Anson's work.
A very 'free' style pen/ink sketch, on a scrap of paper among some notes relating to historical seafarers and the Church.
Another pen/ink and pencil sketch, on a very flimsy scrap of paper, taken from among Anson's research notes relating to French maritime and Church history.
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