the two sonatas used by dart for his edition were probably written between 1724 and 1726, but were not likely intended to be associated, either as a pair or together with the other four recorder sonatas by handel. they were first associated in 1948, when thurston dart named them after the fitzwilliam museum at the university of cambridge, where the autograph sources are kept. said autographs were part of the bequest that founded the museum, made in 1816 by richard fitzwilliam, 7th viscount fitzwilliam (not related to the earls fitzwilliam), who had bought them at auction following the death of j.c. smith the younger (1712–95), from the portion of his collection remaining after a major gift to king george iii.