Robert Howlett Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Robert Howlett Art Value Price Guide

Feb. 07, 2024
Robert Howlett (1831-1858) Three photographs of the Great Eastern, 1857
Est: £500 - £800
Three photographs of the Great Eastern, 1857 albumen prints, mounted, comprising:Starboard elevation from mid-Thames, 17 November 1857, 21.5 x 33cm, mount aperture 20.8 x 26.8, extensive loss to left edge (mostly concealed by mount) [V&A; PH.248-1979];Bow-on view, c.1857, 24.8 x 29cm, mount aperture 23.8 x 25cm, loss to left edge (mostly concealed by mount) [V&A; PH.250-1979];Workers (man and boy) beneath the paddle-wheel, 27.5 x 35.5cm, loss to left edge [V&A; PH.257-1979](3) Robert Howlett’s iconic images of the construction of the Great Eastern are remembered as ‘some of the most significant photographs of the 19th century’ (Hannavy, Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, 2008, vol. 1, pp. 717-18). The Great Eastern was by far the largest ship ever built at the time, and remained so when she was scrapped in 1888. Though an unprecedented marvel of engineering, the project was a financial disaster. Brunel died a few days after her departure on its maiden voyage in 1859. Howlett himself had died the previous year, his colleagues believing that his untimely death had been brought about by the chemicals used in his photographic work; his Great Eastern series is today regarded as ‘epitomizing the spirit of Victorian engineering and endeavour’ (ODNB).
Lyon & Turnbull
Feb. 07, 2024
Robert Howlett (1831-1858) Starboard bow of the Great Eastern, 12th November 1857
Est: £400 - £600
Starboard bow of the Great Eastern, 12th November 1857 albumen print photograph (28.5 x 34cm), dated in negative, laid down on recent mount, spotting above skyline, a hint of rubbing and two short closed nicks along right-hand edge, one closed tear and one small nick to foot [V&A; PH.255-1979] Robert Howlett’s iconic images of the construction of the Great Eastern are remembered as ‘some of the most significant photographs of the 19th century’ (Hannavy, Encyclopaedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, 2008, vol. 1, pp. 717-18). The Great Eastern was by far the largest ship ever built at the time, and remained so when she was scrapped in 1888. Though an unprecedented marvel of engineering, the project was a financial disaster. Brunel died a few days after her departure on its maiden voyage in 1859. Howlett himself had died the previous year, his colleagues believing that his untimely death had been brought about by the chemicals used in his photographic work; his Great Eastern series is today regarded as ‘epitomizing the spirit of Victorian engineering and endeavour’ (ODNB).
Lyon & Turnbull
Feb. 07, 2024
Robert Howlett (1831-1858) Hull, paddle-wheel and chain-drum of the Great Eastern, c.1857
Est: £500 - £800
Hull, paddle-wheel and chain-drum of the Great Eastern, c.1857 albumen-print photograph (27.5 x 36cm), mounted, framed and glazed, a few blemishes [V&A; PH.259-1979] Robert Howlett’s iconic images of the construction of the Great Eastern are remembered as ‘some of the most significant photographs of the 19th century’ (Hannavy, Encyclopaedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, 2008, vol. 1, pp. 717-18). The Great Eastern was by far the largest ship ever built at the time, and remained so when she was scrapped in 1888. Though an unprecedented marvel of engineering, the project was a financial disaster. Brunel died a few days after her departure on its maiden voyage in 1859. Howlett himself had died the previous year, his colleagues believing that his untimely death had been brought about by the chemicals used in his photographic work; his Great Eastern series is today regarded as ‘epitomizing the spirit of Victorian engineering and endeavour’ (ODNB).
Lyon & Turnbull
Feb. 07, 2024
Robert Howlett (1831-1858) Hull and paddle-wheel of the Great Eastern, c.1857
Est: £500 - £800
Hull and paddle-wheel of the Great Eastern, c.1857 arch-topped albumen-print photograph (27.5 x 36cm), mounted, framed and glazed [V&A; PH.253-1979] Robert Howlett’s iconic images of the construction of the Great Eastern are remembered as ‘some of the most significant photographs of the 19th century’ (Hannavy, Encyclopaedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, 2008, vol. 1, pp. 717-18). The Great Eastern was by far the largest ship ever built at the time, and remained so when she was scrapped in 1888. Though an unprecedented marvel of engineering, the project was a financial disaster. Brunel died a few days after her departure on its maiden voyage in 1859. Howlett himself had died the previous year, his colleagues believing that his untimely death had been brought about by the chemicals used in his photographic work; his Great Eastern series is today regarded as ‘epitomizing the spirit of Victorian engineering and endeavour’ (ODNB).
Lyon & Turnbull
Feb. 07, 2024
Robert Howlett (1831-1858) Group portrait of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and associates at the launching of the Great Eastern, 1857
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
Group portrait of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and associates at the launching of the Great Eastern, 1857 Arch-topped albumen print photograph (24 x 22cm), on old mount, framed and glazed, a few blemishes including pale strip of discolouration across centre [NPG x4994] The sitters in this photograph (from left to right) are identified by the National Portrait Gallery as: possibly John Trotman; George William Frederick Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle; Lord Alfred Henry Paget; John Yates; then Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Robert Howlett’s iconic images of the construction of the Great Eastern are remembered as ‘some of the most significant photographs of the 19th century’ (Hannavy, Encyclopaedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, 2008, vol. 1, pp. 717-18). The Great Eastern was by far the largest ship ever built at the time, and remained so when she was scrapped in 1888. Though an unprecedented marvel of engineering, the project was a financial disaster. Brunel died a few days after her departure on its maiden voyage in 1859. Howlett himself had died the previous year, his colleagues believing that his untimely death had been brought about by the chemicals used in his photographic work; his Great Eastern series is today regarded as ‘epitomizing the spirit of Victorian engineering and endeavour’ (ODNB).
Lyon & Turnbull
Sep. 21, 2023
Robert Howlett | Isambard Kingdom Brunel in front the Launching Chains of the Leviathan (Great Eastern)
Est: £10,000 - £15,000
Robert Howlett 1831 - 1858 Isambard Kingdom Brunel in front of the Launching Chains of the Leviathan (Great Eastern) albumen print, flush-mounted, 1857 image: 28 by 21.5 cm (11 by 8½ in.) frame: 45.3 by 37 cm (17⅞ by 14½ in.) PROVENANCE: Sotheby's London, 7 May 1998, Sale 8302, Lot 107
Sotheby's
Nov. 24, 2022
Howlett (Robert, 1831-1858). Group portrait of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and 4 others
Est: £300 - £500
Howlett (Robert, 1831-1858). Group portrait of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and 4 others * Howlett (Robert, 1831-1858). Group portrait of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and 4 others on the day of the launch of the Great Eastern, November 1857, arched top albumen print, horizontal line stain across centre of image, a series of smaller ink dots and one larger ink dot below, 263 x 212 mm, contemporary thin card mount (soiled and frayed) QTY: (1) NOTE: The print held by the National Portrait Gallery, London, (NPG x4994) identifies three of the other four figures as the 7th Earl of Carlisle, Lord Alfred Henry Paget and John Yates, and suggests the figure on the far left is possibly John Trotman. Some copies of this photograph credit the man seated far left as the civil engineer Robert Stephenson rather than the Earl of Carlisle.
Dominic Winter Auctions
Nov. 24, 2022
Howlett (Robert, 1831-1858). Isambard Kingdom Brunel preparing launch of 'The Great Eastern', 1857
Est: £300 - £500
Howlett (Robert, 1831-1858). Isambard Kingdom Brunel preparing launch of 'The Great Eastern', 1857 * Howlett (Robert, 1831-1858). Isambard Kingdom Brunel preparing the launch of 'The Great Eastern', November 1857, standing with J. Scott Russell, Henry Wakefield and Lord Derby, arched top albumen print, dated in the negative lower right, some old damp staining to upper sky area, 275 x 230 mm, contemporary thin card mount (frayed and soiled), the four figures in the foreground identified in pencil to lower mount QTY: (1) NOTE: There is a similar photograph by Howlett taken at the same time which shows faces in the 'second row' behind Brunel more clearly. This is a seemingly more uncommon print. The National Portrait Gallery (NPG P663) attribute the other three figures to be Ned Hepworth, William Jacomb and Solomon Tredwell.
Dominic Winter Auctions
May. 19, 2021
* Howlett (Robert, 1830-1858). Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Est: £300 - £500
* Howlett (Robert, 1830-1858). Isambard Kingdom Brunel, seated by the launching chains of the SS Great Eastern, 1857, stereoscopic albumen prints mounted on buff card, left image slightly faded, together with four other albumen print stereoviews, the deck of the SS Great Eastern showing funnels and rigging, Clifton Suspension Bridge (John Beatty, Clifton), Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash (W. Spreat) and an unidentified scene showing pipe laying (right image signed in the negative by W.R. Sedgfield) Qty: (5)
Dominic Winter Auctions
Jun. 09, 2020
Sports.- Howlett (Robert) The school of recreation: or, The gentlemans tutor, to those most ingenious exercises of hunting. Racing. Hawking. Riding. Cock-fighting. Fowling. Fishing. Shooting. Bowling. â¦
Est: £500 - £700
Sports.- H[owlett] (R[obert]) The school of recreation: or, The gentlemans tutor, to those most ingenious exercises of hunting. Racing. Hawking. Riding. Cock-fighting. Fowling. Fishing. Shooting. Bowling. Tennis. Ringing. Billiards, first edition, engraved frontispiece, advertisement f. at end, woodcut head-piece and decorative initial, frontispiece worn at fore-edge with loss, preliminaries little chipped, a few small wormholes / trace to upper outer margins, affecting some page numbers and the odd letter, closely trimmed at head, just touching the odd headline, some creasing and soiling, lightly browned, disbound, [Schwerdt I, p.225; Thacher p.451; W&S p.110; Wing H3194], 12mo, printed for H. Rodes, next door to the Bear-Tavern near Bride-Lane in Fleet-Street, 1684. sold not subject to return. ⁂ 'a scarce and comprehensive booklet on a great variety of British sports' (Schwerdt). The section on tennis includes a poem 'The Tennis-Court'. Also included are billiards, bell-ringing, bowling, racing and angling. Provenance: 'Samuel Baker bought this book by Bedlam Wall Morefields November ye 24 1736'.
Forum Auctions - UK
Apr. 29, 2020
Robert Howlett (1831-1858)
Est: £200 - £300
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859), taken by Robert Howlett (1831-1858) in November 1857 and published by the London Stereoscopic Company as a carte-de-visite in about 1860. Brunel was one of the foremost engineers of the nineteenth century. As well as shipbuilding, he was responsible for many civil engineering projects including docks, railways and bridges. Here he is photographed in front of the launching chains of his mammoth steamship the 'Great Eastern'. Robert Howlett worked in partnership with Joseph Cundall (1818-1875). He is best known for his series of photographs of the construction and launching of Brunel's ship Great Eastern", and particularly for his portraits of Brunel. His early death, aged just twenty-seven, was posibly due to prolonged exposure to hazardous photographic chemicals.
Chiswick Auctions
Dec. 12, 2016
ROBERT HOWLETT (BRITISH, 1830-1858) Construction Of The Great Eastern Millwall and three silver gelatin prints, ''Railway Maintenance..
Est: $2,800 - $4,800
ROBERT HOWLETT (BRITISH, 1830-1858) Construction Of The Great Eastern Millwall and three silver gelatin prints, ''Railway Maintenance Gang, St. Pancras'' by John Galt, ''Construction of the Metropolitan District Railway'' and ''Construction of the Metropolitan District Railway'' by Henry Flather. (4) silver gelatin prints (4) 41.0 x 57.5cm each PROVENANCE: Zelda Cheatle Gallery, London Lehman Brothers: Artwork and Ephemera, Christie''s, London 29 September 2010
Leonard Joel
Mar. 25, 2015
Robert Howlett, British, 1831-1858 photograph of t
Est: £200 - £300
Robert Howlett, British, 1831-1858 photograph of the bulkheads of the ship SS Great Eastern at Millwall, 23.5 x 28.5cm, laid down on paper (VAT charged on hammer price)
Roseberys
Mar. 06, 2015
Robert Howlett (1831-1858); George Downes. The Great Eastern, and 5 others. Two albumen prints on c
Est: £800 - £1,200
Robert Howlett (1831-1858); George Downes. The Great Eastern, and 5 others. Two albumen prints on card in stereoscopic format, The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope. Photographed by Special Permission of the Board of Directors. General View of Deck from the Stern. stamped in brown ink on card verso, each card approximately 18.2 x 17.2cm (3 1/2 x 6 3/4in); each print (curved top) approximately 7.2 x 7.1cm (2 3/4 x 2 3/4in). This lot contains four other stereocards of the Great Eastern, the first one bearing the London Stereoscopic Company blind stamp on card recto, the second one entitled The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope. Photographed by Special Permission of the Board of Directors. General View of the Deck from the Stern - the Band in the Foreground. printed in black ink on card verso, the third one bearing London Stereoscopic Company blind stamp on card recto, The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope. Photographed by Special Permission of the Board of Directors. The Funnel, with Portraits of Officers, &c. connected with the "Great Eastern," &c &c. printed in black ink on card verso and the last is another stereocard of the Great Eastern, entitled The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope. Photographed by Special Permission of the Board of Directors. General View, from the Starboard side. printed in brown ink on the card verso. Provenance: Private Collection, Europe
Dreweatts 1759
Jun. 06, 2014
Robert Howlett (1831-1858); George Downes - The Funnel, with Portraits of Officers, 1857 and 2 others
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
Two albumen prints pasted on card in stereoscopic format , London Stereoscopic Company blindstamp on card recto, The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope. Photographed by Special Permission of the Board of Directors. The Funnel, with Portraits of Officers, connected with the "Great Eastern," printed in black ink on card verso, each card approximately : 18.2 x 17.2cm ( 3 1/4 x 6 3/4in); each print (curved top) approximately : 7.2 x 7.1cm (2 3/4 x 2 3/4in) This lot contains two other stereocards of the Great Eastern, one bearing the London Stereoscopic Company blindstamp on card recto, and the other entitled The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope. Photographed by Special Permission of the Board of Directors. General View of the Deck from the Stern - the Band in the Foreground. printed in black ink on card verso. Provenance: Private Collection, Europe
Dreweatts 1759
Jun. 06, 2014
Robert Howlett (1831-1858); George Downes - The Great Eastern, General View of Deck from the Stern
Est: £800 - £1,200
Two albumen prints pasted on card in stereoscopic format , London Stereoscopic Company blindstamp on card recto, The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope. Photographed by Special Permission of the Board of Directors. General View of Deck from the Stern. stamped in brown ink on card verso, each card approximately : 18.2 x 17.2cm (3 1/2 x 6 3/4in); each print (curved top) approximately: 7.2 x 7.1cm (2 3/4 x 2 3/4in) This lot contains another stereocard of the Great Eastern, entitled The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope. Photographed by Special Permission of the Board of Directors. General View, from the Starboard side. printed in brown ink on the card verso. Provenance: Private Collection, Europe
Dreweatts 1759
Jun. 06, 2014
Robert Howlett (1831-1858); George Downes - Isambard Kingdom Brunel, 1857
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
Two albumen prints pasted on card in stereoscopic format , The Great Eastern in the Stereoscope. Photographed by Special Permission of the Board of Directors. The late I.K. Brunel, Esq., Superintending Engineer to the Great Eastern. stamped in brown ink on card verso, card: 18.2 x 17.2cm (7 1/8 x 6 3/4in); each print: (curved top): 7.2 x 7.1cm (2 3/4 x 2 3/4in) Provenance: Private Collection, Europe
Dreweatts 1759
May. 29, 2014
ROBERT HOWLETT (British, 1831-1858)
Est: $400 - $600
Construction of the General Eastern, Millwall, framed silver gelatin print Ex lot 1265 (part), Christie's, Lehman Brothers, Artwork and Ephemera 41.27 x 58.4cm
Leonard Joel
Sep. 10, 2013
HOWLETT (ROBERT)
Est: £200 - £400
A portrait of Sergeant Major Edwards of the Scottish Fusilier Guards, albumen print, framed and glazed, image to view 220 x 160mm., [1856]
Bonhams
Nov. 27, 2012
[HOWLETT (ROBERT)]
Est: £150 - £300
The Anglers Sure Guide: or, Angling Improved, And Methodically Digested, engraved frontispiece, one engraved plate [Westwood & Satchell, p.110], J.H. for G. Conyers, 1706; [BOAZ (HERMAN)] The Angler's Progress: A Poem, second edition, woodcut vignette on title and illustrations [Westwood & Satchell, p.35], J.H. Burn, 1820, 2 works in one vol., contemporary calf, covers gilt-blocked with tools of angling motifs (reel, fly, fish and tackle) in corners with central motif of angler and his dog, spine tooled with 5 fish motifs, joints repaired, 8vo
Bonhams
May. 22, 2012
[HOWLETT (ROBERT)]
Est: £300 - £500
The Anglers Sure Guide: or, Angling Improved, And Methodically Digested, engraved frontispiece, one engraved plate [Westwood & Satchell, p.110], J.H. for G. Conyers, 1706; [BOAZ (HERMAN)] The Angler's Progress: A Poem, second edition, woodcut vignette on title and illustrations [Westwood & Satchell, p.35], J.H. Burn, 1820, 2 works in one vol., contemporary calf, covers gilt-blocked with tools of angling motifs (reel, fly, fish and tackle) in corners with central motif of angler and his dog, spine tooled with 5 fish motifs, joints repaired, 8vo
Bonhams
May. 22, 2012
[HOWLETT (ROBERT)]
Est: £400 - £500
The School of Recreation, frontispiece composed of six small vignettes, 12-page catalogue of books printed by Nicholas Boddington at end, some slight discoloration, contemporary sheep, skilfully rebacked [Westwood & Satchell, p.110], 12mo (140 x 80mm.), Printed for H. Rhodes, 1701
Bonhams
Sep. 29, 2010
ROBERT HOWLETT (1830-1858)
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
ROBERT HOWLETT (1830-1858) Construction of The Great Eastern, Millwall 16¼ x 23 in. (41.2 x 58.5 cm.) and three silver gelatin prints, 'Railway Maintenance Gang, St. Pancras' by John Galt, 'Construction of the Metropolotan District Railway' and 'Construction of the Metropolitan District Railway' by Henry Flather. (4)
Christie's
Sep. 01, 2008
ROBERT HOWLETT
Est: £400 - £600
ROBERT HOWLETT The School of Recreation: Or, The Gentlemans Tutor to those most ingenious exercises of Hunting, Racing, Hawking, Riding, Cock-Fighting, Fowling, Fishing, Shooting, Bowling, Tennis, Ringing, Billiards. London: H. Rhodes, 1684. 12°, engraved frontispiece showing six sporting scenes, final advertisement leaf, contemporary calf (spine restored, covers worn at lower edges, slightly bowed). Provenance: Edward Rooper (early signature on front free endpaper). FIRST EDITION. "Of Tennis" includes "The Tennis-Court", a seven stanza poem concluding: "Thus in the Tennis-Court, Love is A Pleasure mixt with Pain". Schwerdt I, p. 225: "a scarce and comprehensive booklet on a great variety of British sports"; Westwood & Satchell p. 110; Wing H3194.
Christie's
May. 14, 2008
Howlett (Robert). "Brunel in Chains", 1857,
Est: £200 - £300
Howlett (Robert). "Brunel in Chains", 1857, albumen print photo carte de visite of Brunel standing in front of the launching chains of the Great Eastern, image 80 x 55 mm, facsimile signature on mount beneath and printed details of London Stereoscopic Company to mount verso, a little rubbed and soiled (1)
Dominic Winter Auctions
Nov. 12, 2007
Robert Howlett (1831-1858) , Isambard Kingdom Brunel by the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern, 1857
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
Albumen print, from a wet collodion glass negative, mounted on card and with an early passe-partout surround affixed to the front face.Framed.
Sotheby's
Nov. 14, 2006
ROBERT HOWLETT (1830-1858)
Est: £3,000 - £4,000
The Great Eastern ['Leviathan'], 12 November 1857 albumen print dated in negative, mounted to album page 10 7/8 x 14 1/4 in. (27.6 x 36.3cm.)
Christie's
Nov. 25, 2004
ROBERT HOWLETT (1831-1858)
Est: £6,000 - £8,000
Isambard Kingdom Brunel in front of the launching chains of the Great Eastern, 1857 albumen print. Signed by Brunel in ink on mount 11 x 8in. (28 x 21.5cm.) Framed
Christie's
Nov. 16, 2004
ROBERT HOWLETT (1831-1858)
Est: £800 - £1,200
The Great Eastern, 1857 albumen print dated 'Nov 17, 5...' in negative; credit blindstamp on mount 6 7/8 x 14in. (17.6 x 35.6cm.)
Christie's
May. 10, 2001
Robert Howlett
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
Robert Howlett the leviathan (the great eastern). on the deck, 2nd november 1857 Albumen Print, mounted on card, dated 'Nov 2 57' in the negative, photographer's blindstamp 'Robert Howlett/Photographic Institution/168 New Bond Street' on the mount, 277 by 365mm Provenance: Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Thence by descent. Sotheby's Belgravia, London, April 22nd 1988, lot 83.
Sotheby's
May. 10, 2001
Robert Howlett
Est: £1,200 - £1,800
Robert Howlett the leviathan (the great eastern). group including isambard kingdom brunel, j. scott russell, henry wakefield and lord derby watching an attempt to launch the ship, november 28th, 1857 Albumen Print, remounted on modern archival card, 260 by 202mm (maximum dimensions) Provenance: Christie's South Kensington, London, October 25th 1979, lot 376.
Sotheby's