Object number
2011/6
Title
Rural Life,
Description
This is a large painting depicting Gypsy Roma or Traveller people with horses, dogs and caravans. It was commissioned by the donor and painted some time 1958–1960 by an unknown artist who worked as a laboratory technician at the Medical Research Council Laboratories at Holly Hill, Hampstead. The donor could not afford the full fee and so the painting was delivered to him in an ‘unfinished’ state. It is believed that the artist knew the family in the painting.
Physical description
1 large painting, acrylic on hardboard, in gilt-coloured lightweight wooden frame. The hardboard will ultimately disintegrate, off-gas, and affect the paint layer. There is little evidence of active decline of this sort at present.
Label Text
Unfinished painting. This painting (artist unknown) depicts a group of Travellers. You can learn more about the painting and the elements of Gypsy life on our online exhibition.
Archival history
MERL ‘Object Accession Form’ – 'Short description (free text): Large painting depicting 'Gypsy' or traveller people with horses, dogs, and caravans. // … // Associated information (free text): The painting was commissioned by Dr Michael Stack-Dunne from a young lady who painted to order for an agreed fee. Michael Stack-Dunne's only instructions were that the required artwork should be '3' x 5', Real Life.' Michael Stack-Dunne believed this to have been in the period 1958-1960. The artist's regular employment was as a laboratory technician at the Medical Research Council Laboratories at Holly Hill, Hampstead. She was a member of staff. Michael Stack-Dunne could not recall how much he paid for the painting, nor could he recall the artist's name, but he did remember that her friends persuaded her to ask for more in way of payment. As he described it, he was 'short of cash,' so the artist compromised by agreeing to deliver it in an 'unfinished' state and it remains in this state. The artist knew the family depicted very well. Michael Stack-Dunne believed that 'Gypsy' visitors to the Museum might well be able to recognise and identify them. The painting formed the subject of a bequest. The Museum was first alerted to the painting by its owner, Michael Stack-Dunne, in 2007. Then Keeper of the Museum, Dr Roy Brigden, wrote to Michael Stack-Dunne to indicate that the Museum would be happy to accept the painting as a bequest following his death. In July 2011, an employee of the solicitors Druces LLP called Adam Hayward wrote to Dr Brigden to indicate that Michael Stack-Dunne had moved to a care home in Chelsea and his flat had been cleared. Druces LLP were dealing with Michael Stack-Dunne’s affairs and finances and came across the painting with the letter of acceptance during the flat clearance process. They held the item in storage at their head office in London until it was collected by the Museum.’
Production date
1958 - 1960
Object name
Material
Dimensions
- Width 1524 mm
- Height 915 mm
- Depth 5 mm
Associated subject
