Harbour, Northern France, Honfleur

Location

Country: France
City: Paris
Place: British Embassy

The harbour of Hônfleur in the Calvados region of northwest France is the setting for this tranquil scene by American artist Anna ‘Nan’ Hope Hudson. The composition is dominated by the calm surface of the water, in which horizontal dabs of colour capture areas of light and shade and the translucency of the water. Along the horizon line is a parade of buildings, the windows and lights of which suggest shops, cafés and bars.

When the Government Art Collection purchased this work in 1980, it was titled Harbour, Northern France, Dieppe. At the time, this attribution was conceivable as Dieppe is close to Château D’Auppegard, the grand mansion that Hudson and her partner and fellow American artist, Ethel Sands, had bought in 1920. Ardent Francophiles, the couple lovingly restored the house and divided their time between England and France for many years.

In 2015, Lady Suzanne Ricketts, wife of former British Ambassador to France, and Dr Wendy Baron, former Director of the Government Art Collection, identified the correct location of the scene as Hônfleur over 100 km west of Dieppe. After looking at historical photographs of the French port, Lady Ricketts recognised parts of the buildings as depicted in Hope Hudson’s painting. The Collection is grateful to Lady Ricketts and Wendy Baron for undertaking this research and benefitting the wider knowledge of Hudson’s painting.

Anna Hope Hudson, known as ‘Nan’, was born in New York in 1869. When she was nine, her mother died, leaving her father to raise the family until his death in 1892. Hudson inherited part of her mother’s estate that enabled her to live independently. A year later, she moved to Paris to study painting where she met Ethel Sands. Both women shared similar family backgrounds and interests, but while Sands ‘took a childish delight in the frivolities of life’, Hudson had a more introverted personality. Their relationship was a happy one that lasted over 60 years until Hudson’s death. An ardent Francophile, Hudson spent most of her time working in France. Until 1906, her exhibiting success was focused in Paris at the Salon d’Automne, where she won the praise of W. R. Sickert. He invited Hudson and Sands to join his newly formed artistic circle, the Fitzroy Street Group, in 1907 – their talent but also their wealth, which helped set up the group, drew his attention. However, as women, they were not invited to join the Camden Street Group that Sickert established in 1911. Hudson exhibited work regularly at the New English Art Club and the Leicester Galleries. She and Sands had a joint show at the Carfax Gallery in 1912 and in 1913, were founder members of the London Group. In the First World War, Hudson and Sands ran a hospital in Normandy, which later relocated to Auppegard. After the war, Hudson resumed her painting career and showed her work in London. During the Second World War, both women worked as nurses again during the first year, but left France in 1940. At some point during the war, Auppegard was burgled and many of the couple’s belongings were stolen or destroyed. Hudson and Sands eventually returned to their home where they remained until Hudson’s death in 1957. Sands died in London in 1962, five years after Hudson.

Places

France, Calvados, Normandy, Honfleur

Subjects

fishing boat, topography, seascape/coastal scene, townscape/cityscape, harbour

Materials & Techniques

board, oil, oil painting

Artist

Anna Hope ("Nan") Hudson (1869 - 1957)

Title

Harbour, Northern France, Honfleur

Date

Medium

Oil on board

Dimensions

height: 35.00 cm, width: 43.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Belgrave Gallery, November 1980

Inscription

br: A H Hudson

GAC number

15124