Catalogue description A collection of drawings by the Bourne family

A collection of drawings by the Bourne family.

A ? relative H P Bourne lived in Hertford at 7 North Crescent. His daughter Edmunda Margaret Bourne, born in 1820 also exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844 but little is recorded about her.

The drawings are undoubtedly in different hands but only one (D/EX837/2/6) is initialled "E.B." presumably for Edmunda Bourne. D/EX837/2/5 is endorsed: J Bourne, 7 Somerset Street, Portman Square (London). An index at the front of the volume (D/EX837/1) lists the drawings by page.

Bourne, James, 1773-1854, of 7 Somerset Street, Portman Square, London

Bourne, Edmunda, fl 1820-1844, of 7 North Crescent, Hertford

James Bourne (1773-1854) was born in Dalby, Lincolnshire, the younger son by a first wife of "a country gentleman of considerable landed property".

From his late teens he made his living from his drawing, believing himself to have been called upon by God to draw. He later became a Methodist and is known to have preached in Hertford occasionally from 1838 onwards. From 1800 to 1809 he exhibited works, mainly landscapes, at the Royal Academy.

He died at Sutton Coldfield in 1854.