Landscape with Figures

Location

Country: USA
City: Washington DC
Place: British Embassy

This Chinese painting on silk was purchased from the Trustees of diplomat, writer and politician Philip Henry Kerr, eleventh Marquess of Lothian (1882-1940) in February 1946. Kerr was private secretary to Prime Minister David Lloyd George from 1916 to 1921. In March 1921 he resigned to become Managing Editor of the ‘Daily Chronicle’ and a director of United Newspapers Ltd., which Lloyd George controlled. Kerr succeeded his cousin as Marquess of Lothian in 1930. From 1931 to 1932 he held a minor office in the government of Ramsay Macdonald. Lothian’s appointment as Ambassador to the US was announced in April 1939.

Just four days after Lothian presented his credentials at the White House, Britain was at war. The new ambassador made a series of speeches, broadcasts and interviews in which he set out Britain's case. However, on 7 December 1840 Lothian fell ill. He refused conventional medicine because of his Christian Science beliefs and died at the British Embassy on 12 December 1940. The Marquess was given a state funeral in Washington Cathedral. Twenty works from Lothian’s collection, which remained at the Embassy building after his death, were later purchased by the Ministry of Works for the Government Collection.

Places

Far East, China

Subjects

landscape C18th, genre, Chinese School, boy, man, house, tiled roof

Materials & Techniques

silk, watercolour (as artists materials), watercolour (as object name)

Artist

Chinese 18th century unknown

Title

Landscape with Figures

Date

Medium

watercolour on silk

Dimensions

height: 80.00 cm, width: 171.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from the Trustees of the XI Marquis of Lothian, February 1946

Provenance

Collection of Philip Henry Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian (1882-1940); from whose trustees, purchased by the Ministry of Works in February 1946

GAC number

0/68