Dutch Family

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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: Netherlands
    City: The Hague
    Place: British Embassy

    The identity of the artist and sitters in this group portrait, have yet to be identified. The painting was removed from a wall panel at No. 18 Collingham Gardens, near Earls Court in London.

    The houses of Collingham Gardens (built 1883–88) were designed by Ernest George and Harold Peto, progressive domestic architects. Their designs are said to have been ‘inspired by the old Flemish and German town houses’. Architect Robert Kerr, writing in 1884 on the progression of architecture, pointed out that the architect was increasingly considering ‘minor art work, which is part and parcel of his scheme and which he must himself design and control …there may be even set pictures and statuary sometimes.’ It is not implausible that architects had this work installed to complement the Dutch-style of architecture.

    During the early 20th century, 18 Collingham Gardens was occupied by a family named Dales. A Mr J. D. Crump resided there in 1937 but by 1945 the building was in use as a hostel for ‘Colonial Women Students’. The property was later owned by the Department of the Environment and leased to the British Council until 1970. That year this work was removed before the building was converted to a home for retired police officers.

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  • Details
    Title
    Dutch Family
    Date
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 135.00 cm, width: 160.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Transferred from the Department of the Environment, Property Services Agency, November 1970
    Inscription
    none visible
    Provenance
    Formerly at No.18 Collingham Gardens, London, SW5 (Building maintained by the Victoria League as the Colonial Girls’ Club, on behalf of the Colonial Office. Building formerly owned by the Property Services Agency and Department of the Environment.)
    GAC number
    12078