John Henderson (1764–1843) – ‘Grand Canal, Venice’ and ‘Santa Maria della Salute, Venice’

John Henderson (1764-1843) was a collector, artist and along with his Adelphi Terrace neighbour Dr. Thomas Monro an early patron of Thomas Girtin and J.M.W. Turner. Henderson owned a fine collection of paintings by Canaletto (later bequeathed by his son to the British Museum) and acted as both mentor and patron to Girtin and Turner. Henderson and the younger artists would sit and copy works by Canaletto, Piranesi and others, learning and developing their techniques in drawing and watercolour. There are a number of watercolours by Henderson in the British Museum, and sketches in the Tate Gallery collection, where there are also works by Turner inscribed ‘after Henderson’ – meaning that Turner copied Henderson’s original. There are also collaborative works by Henderson and Turner such as ‘Dover’ in the British Museum (museum no. 1878,1228.45), which is believed to have been coloured by Henderson with the outline sketched by Turner.