View in St. James’s Park

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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: Luxembourg
    City: Luxembourg
    Place: British Embassy

    During the 18th century St James’s Park resembled a country meadow, with deer and cattle grazing in the long, rough grass. This view represents the park looking towards Horse Guards Parade, the back of the Treasury and Westminster Abbey, its twin towers designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor now free of the scaffolding which had marked their construction between 1735 and 1740. The end of the Long Canal in St James’s Park can be glimpsed on the right.

    This work was formerly in the collection of Edmund Thomas Gardner of London and had probably been owned by his father, John Edmund Gardner (1819-1899) of Park House, Swiss Cottage, a lamp and chandelier manufacturer, lamp oil seller and ‘gas engineer’. John Gardner formed a considerable collection, mainly of prints but also including drawings, armour and other curiosities.


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  • Details
    Title
    View in St. James’s Park
    Date
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 33.50 cm, width: 50.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Sotheby's, 30 October 1929
    Provenance
    [Presumably collection of John Edmund Gardner (1819-1899) of Park House, Swiss Cottage, London; by descent to] Edmund Thomas Gardner of Park House; by whose daughter sold through Sotheby's, London, ‘Pictures of the Italian and Dutch Schools from various sources’ sale, on 30 October 1929 (Lot 69); from which sale bought by ‘Reddock’ on behalf of the Office of Works
    GAC number
    0/259