Henry William Burgess (c.1792-1837) was highly regarded for his landscape drawings and paintings, with a particular emphasis on the study of trees. He was appointed landscape painter to King William IV, in 1826, and the following year published his influential 'Eidodendron; Views of the general Character and Appearance of Trees Foreign & Indigenous as connected with picturesque Scenery', a series of finely executed lithographs by William Hullmandel after studies by Burgess, such as the prime example found here. One of several albums and sketchbooks from the sale of property of the Marquesses of Lothian (Sotheby's, London, March 2017), it is clear Burgess gave drawing classes to Lady Henrietta Kerr, second wife of William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian, and their daughter, Lady Anne Katherine Kerr, in the late 1820s and early 1830s.

18 bright and fresh watercolours, most of Scottish Lowland scenery, including coastal loch and sea views, and a few continental lakeside views, each average 17.5 x 25 cm (7 x 10 inches), on stiff wove paper mounted at corners to album leaves, along with several other pencil drawings, two with monochrome washes, by Burgess, including an excellent tree study, and his pupil, Lady Harriett Kerr, 3 initialled by her, mostly further continental landscapes, contained in a half-calf album, 4to. The watercolours in good, clean condition, the drawings generally likewise, the binding rubbed, corners slightly worn, calf spine sunned, cloth boards also unevenly faded.