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Description: | "This work is a wonderful precis, on a Flemish foundation, of many 18th-century trends in English landscape painting, then still in its infancy, yet it is in no way a pastice on anybody, nor does it lose the essential features of an undulating English landscape." [Annual Report 1956-1957 p.6]
An old tree rises in the foreground, left of centre. A man is bundling together some brushwood to the left of the tree. Another man holding a basket watches from beside a large tree stump. On a winding path to the right of the tree, a man leads a horse loaded with packs followed by a young woman holding a pitcher. The couple, probably servants, are addressed from the side of the road by another traveller with a stoop who carries a bag on his back and holds a stick. Behind them is Wollaton park lake and the Hall, with its four distinctive towers and raised central hall, can be seen lit by sunlight high on the hills in the distance. A brown and white dog races along the road in the foreground, presumably chasing a rabbit which is outside the picture frame.
Virag 16/12/2004, Between 1984 and 1985, a research assistant, Dr. Brendan Cassidy, was employed by Nottingham Castle Museum to research and write a catalogue of the foreign oil paintings in their collection. The catalogue never materialised, but drafts and notes relating to Cassidy's research can be found in the Artist Files and in the Archive at the museum. All references to Cassidy relate to these documents.
Nottingham has another painting of Wollaton Hall by Hendrick de Cort (1967-126), in which a much closer and more detailed view of the building can be seen. It is thought that NCM 1957-10 and NCM 1967-126, which are almost identical in size, were probably commissioned at the same time as a pair.
The dating of NCM 1957-10 is based on that of another picture of Wollaton Hall by de Cort (NCM 1967-126) and which is presumed to be pendant to NCM 1957-10. De Cort's view of Castle Howard, Yorkshire, which is closely comparable in composition to NCM 1957-10, is dated 1800.
It is likely that NCM 1957-10 was painted for the Willoughby family who were the original owners of Wollaton Hall.
This work was on display and so could not be examined on the reverse and was hung too high for thorough examination of the front.
There are a few areas of isolated paint loss; at lower left edge, at base of tree in foreground and to the left of the man leading the horse.
On the reverse:
From Cassidy's notes in the Artist File:
1. Agnew No. 17942
Label:
James Bourlet & Sons
framemakers
K 1557
NCM 1957-10 was recorded to be in 'excellent condition' whilst in the possession of Thomas Agnew prior to the sale to Nottingham (Letter dated 11 February 1957, from Thomas Agnew & Sons to Clement Pitman in Artist File)
It seems that NCM 1957-10 (along with NCM 1967-126) was considered for restoration in 1995 (Letter dated 22 February 1995 from Mark Roberts Conservation & Restoration of Painting, Notts. To Neil Walker in Artist File). The letter outlines proposed treatment as surface cleaning and retouching of paint losses. However, considering the current condition of this panel, the treatment was presumably never carried out.
Hendrik de Cort's view of country houses were exhibited at the Royal Academy and British Institution between 1790 and 1806. However, it seems that NCM 1957-10 was not among those works exhibited. (R.A. and B.I. exhibitions already checked by Cassidy).
Virag 16/12/2004,
Accession number: NCM 1957-10 | Subjects: | topography architecture landscapes Nottingham and Notts. country estates | Source: | Nottingham City Museums and Galleries | Creator: | born HOLLAND/Anvers died BRITAIN/London | Identifier: | http://media.culturegrid.org.uk/mediaLib... | Go to resource |
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