The Nollekens Conversation Piece
A highly important group portrait of the Tylney family gathered together in the Saloon of Wanstead House (demolished 1822).
The Nollekens Conversation Piece
Detail
The Tylney family in the Saloon at Wanstead, oil on canvas, by Joseph Francis Nollekens (1702-1748), inscribed ‘J. Nollekens F. 1740’ bottom left.
86.3 x 109.2cm (canvas) CT198.327
Recent research has proved that this painting does actually show the interior of the Saloon at Wanstead House, an impressive early 18th C mansion in Essex (now demolished) designed by Colin Campbell for Sir Richard Child, later Viscount Castlemaine (1718) and subsequently, Earl Tylney (1732).
Sir Richard had amassed great wealth as chairman of the East India Company and like many in his position, employed William Kent for much of the interior decoration and design.
We see the family assembled in front of the fireplace with a “history” painting depicting the story of Pandora above. This painting was attributed to the hand of Nollekens or Casali, depending on which 18th C guidebook you read.
Sir Richard sits on the right surrounded by his sons John and Joshua whilst at the card table is his wife Dorothy and standing behind at the fireplace is the daughter Emma holding a closed fan.
Also seated at the table is a young man thought to be a naval captain and the artist, Nollekens, is careful to highlight accurately, the gilded chair on which he sits. (The set of chairs depicted in this room were bought for the Earl of Pembroke at the Wanstead House sale in 1822 and are now on display at Wilton house).
The young boy to the left, not yet “breached”, is James Long, son of Emma and her husband Sir Robert Long, who we see standing close by.
Every bit the gentleman, Sir Robert models his posture on the drawings in The Rudiments of Polite Behaviour by Francois Nivelon,1737.
Our painting was sold at the famous 1822 auction along with the rest of the contents and the building sold for salvage and demolition. The fact that this is an accurate depiction of the room and its contents is also confirmed by the survival of the fireplace, now installed in a house in Cambridge.
86.3 x 109.2cm (canvas) CT198.327
Recent research has proved that this painting does actually show the interior of the Saloon at Wanstead House, an impressive early 18th C mansion in Essex (now demolished) designed by Colin Campbell for Sir Richard Child, later Viscount Castlemaine (1718) and subsequently, Earl Tylney (1732).
Sir Richard had amassed great wealth as chairman of the East India Company and like many in his position, employed William Kent for much of the interior decoration and design.
We see the family assembled in front of the fireplace with a “history” painting depicting the story of Pandora above. This painting was attributed to the hand of Nollekens or Casali, depending on which 18th C guidebook you read.
Sir Richard sits on the right surrounded by his sons John and Joshua whilst at the card table is his wife Dorothy and standing behind at the fireplace is the daughter Emma holding a closed fan.
Also seated at the table is a young man thought to be a naval captain and the artist, Nollekens, is careful to highlight accurately, the gilded chair on which he sits. (The set of chairs depicted in this room were bought for the Earl of Pembroke at the Wanstead House sale in 1822 and are now on display at Wilton house).
The young boy to the left, not yet “breached”, is James Long, son of Emma and her husband Sir Robert Long, who we see standing close by.
Every bit the gentleman, Sir Robert models his posture on the drawings in The Rudiments of Polite Behaviour by Francois Nivelon,1737.
Our painting was sold at the famous 1822 auction along with the rest of the contents and the building sold for salvage and demolition. The fact that this is an accurate depiction of the room and its contents is also confirmed by the survival of the fireplace, now installed in a house in Cambridge.
This object is located in the Saloon
It is categorised as Painting
This page was last updated on 1 July 2009