1947-49
Oil on panel
119 x 89.5 cm
King’s College, University of Cambridge
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Recto: No visible date or signature; entered in RE sales diary as sold early in 1949
Aka: King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, by Candlelight [RE sales diary]; The Organ Screen, King’s College Chapel [King's College]
Other measurements: 119.00 x 89.50 cm [REP]; 121.9 x 91.5 [RE sales diary]
Cambridge Cambridgeshire England The South King’s College, University of Cambridge architecture building candlelight candles chapels churches interior musical instrument organ ornate pipe pipeorgan pipes public collection space"King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, by Candlelight" and " The Organ Screen, King’s College Chapel" have been recorded as two separate works in the past, partly because there were no sizes to compare them and partly because one was recorded as being on panel and the other on canvas. Thanks to finding Richard's sales diary we can now see that the dimensions of both records match, so pending further evidence, we are merging the entries into one.
According to Richard's sales diary there are three Cambridge pictures, all paid for by Kenneth Harrison, a Fellow at King's.
"King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, by Candlelight" and " The Organ Screen, King’s College Chapel" have been recorded as two separate works in the past, partly because there were no sizes to compare them and partly because one was recorded as being on panel and the other on canvas. Thanks to finding Richard's sales diary we can now see that the dimensions of both records match, so pending further evidence, we are merging the entries into one.
According to Richard's sales diary there are three Cambridge pictures, all paid for by Kenneth Harrison, a Fellow at King's.
King’s College Looking Eastwards from the Backs (1946) was paid for in 1946. Richard also mentions it in his day diary: "a large swan came buzzing over down on to the water in front of my subject this morning. It was perfect, such a swoop and curve and stretch of wings.”
Trinity College, the Wren Library and River Cam (1946) was also paid for in 1946.
King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, by Candlelight (1947-49) was commissioned early in 1947 but not finished and paid for until early spring 1949.
1st January 1947: This day finds me still working and cursing over the two Cambridge pictures.
4th January 1947: Still painting and cursing.
17th January 1947: K Harrison delighted with the two pictures and discussing another of the chapel by candlelight for
next winter (£300)13th December 1947: Making notes for the painting of King’s chapel by candlelight. The windows are being put back and as the light dies the colour shows very slightly on stonework.
1 February 1948: Started painting the organ screen in the Chapel picture
26th February 1949: Have been working some time now on …
1st January 1947: This day finds me still working and cursing over the two Cambridge pictures.
4th January 1947: Still painting and cursing.
17th January 1947: K Harrison delighted with the two pictures and discussing another of the chapel by candlelight for
next winter (£300)13th December 1947: Making notes for the painting of King’s chapel by candlelight. The windows are being put back and as the light dies the colour shows very slightly on stonework.
1 February 1948: Started painting the organ screen in the Chapel picture
26th February 1949: Have been working some time now on “The Chapel” again – whether I can finish it or not remains to be seen. Unfortunately it is the kind of thing that can go on for ever.
5th March 1949: To London. Collected George Barnes’ picture from the BBC and took it and The Chapel and a flower piece to Redfern.
Listed in the Redfern March 1949 catalogue as King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, by Candlelight
RE sales diary - 1949 - entry 254 - King's College Chapel by Candlelight - (Cambridge) - 48x36 - to Kenneth Harrison (of King's) - 300gns
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