Park Place, Henley c. 1742-3
Oil on canvas | 89.5 x 153.5 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 406898
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John Wootton, one of the earliest native English painters, was extensively patronised by the Royal family during the reign of George II: Queen Caroline visited his studio in 1732, by which time he was already working for her son, Frederick, Prince of Wales. In 1719 Lady Archibald Hamilton bought Park Place estate near Henley and built a (now-demolished) country house. Lady Hamilton’s friend, Frederick, Prince of Wales, acquired the house in 1738. This is one of three landscapes (OM 548-50, RCIN 406898, 400505 and 400507) depicting the house and its surrounding country, which were seen at Buckingham House by Horace Walpole, who said that the paintings were done for Lady Hamilton when she had Park Place ‘or after she sold it to the late Prince, who is walking with the Princess and her in one of them’ (this could refer to either RCIN 400505 or 400507). Given the probably date of the paintings (1742-3) it is likely that these were painted for Frederick, Prince of Wales or conceivable for Lady Hamilton as a gift for the current owner of Park Place. A distant view of Park Place, seen on the top of the rise in the setting sun; in the foreground are labourers and animals in the fields before the river Thames, on the extreme left of which is seen a royal barge pulled by eight men in livery.
Provenance
Probably painted for Frederick, Prince of Wales; seen by Horace Walpole at Buckngham Palace in 1783; in the Great Drawing Room at Kensington Palace in 1818 (no 303)
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Creator(s)
Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Oil on canvas
Measurements
89.5 x 153.5 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
113.0 x 171.2 x 12.2 cm (frame, external)
Category
Object type(s)