James Lambert senior was born in Sussex in 1725. He was the son of John Lambert ( 1690-1764) and his wife Susannah. The Lambert family moved to Lewes in 1730 or thereabouts, and lived in the Cliffe area of the town. James is easily confused with his relative James Lambert junior (1741-1799), who was apparently a nephew rather than his son. Both produced numerous paintings of Sussex churches, castles, abbeys, country houses and local views. The two men also worked together and sometimes just signed their works as "James Lambert", as in this case.
The watercolour shows the ruins of Lewes Castle from the north west, near Castle Lane. The V&A also holds another view, showing the gatehouse from the south (D.111-1890).
