{"product_id":"interior-painting-the-long-gallery-chimneypiece-westwood-house-worcestershire-c1891","title":"Interior Painting The Long Gallery Chimneypiece, Westwood House, Worcestershire C1891","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE. Leonard, The Long Gallery Chimneypiece at Westwood House, 1891\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn Atmospheric Victorian Watercolour of a Great English Country-House Interior\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the Manner of John Chessell Buckler\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHighlights\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Historically engaging architectural watercolour dated 1891.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Records the Long Gallery chimneypiece at Westwood House in Worcestershire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Artist identified as E. Leonard by a printed card on the reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Westwood House is recognised as a Grade I-listed historic building.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Richly observed carved woodwork, furnishings, ceramics and ancestral portraiture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Combines architectural precision with the warmth of an inhabited interior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Presented in a Larson-Juhl gilt frame with conservation-grade mounting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Protected by AR70 low-reflection, UV-reducing glazing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Worcestershire private-collection provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Privately loaned and exhibited during 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePainted in 1891, this evocative watercolour preserves a quiet moment within the Long Gallery at Westwood House, one of Worcestershire’s most distinctive historic country houses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the centre of the composition stands an elaborate carved chimneypiece crowned by an ancestral portrait. The warm brown tones of the woodwork are illuminated by a softly glowing fire, while coloured ceramics, dried flowers, a potted palm and a crimson chaise longue reveal the room as both an architectural showpiece and a lived domestic interior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe work is unsigned on its visible painted surface. A printed card attached to the reverse records the artist as E. Leonard, gives the date 1891 and identifies the subject as Westwood Park, Worcestershire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalogue Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtist: E. Leonard, according to the verso card.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDate: 1891.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubject: The Long Gallery chimneypiece at Westwood House.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLocation: Westwood Park, Worcestershire, England.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMedium: Watercolour on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClassification: British architectural and interior watercolour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStylistic description: In the manner of John Chessell Buckler.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSignature: No visible painted signature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDocumentary evidence: Printed identifying card retained on the reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePresentation: Larson-Juhl gilt frame with conservation-grade mount and AR70 glazing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalogue Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watercolour’s strength lies in its balance between precise observation and atmosphere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeonard carefully establishes the room’s perspective and the proportions of its architectural features. The chimneypiece forms an imposing focal point, its carved structure leading upwards towards the portrait of a gentleman in historic dress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDomestic objects temper this formality. Small vases introduce jewel-like blue and red accents, while dried flowers and a palm bring organic forms into the architectural setting. The crimson chaise adds colour and suggests the continued use of the room during the late-Victorian period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watercolour is constructed through transparent layers of ochre, sienna, brown and muted green. These controlled washes convey the depth and patina of the carved timber while retaining the luminosity characteristic of watercolour on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWestwood House and the Pakington Family\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWestwood House is situated west of Droitwich within the historic landscape of Westwood Park.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe house began as a hunting lodge constructed around 1600 for Sir John Pakington. It was extended during approximately 1660–70 for his grandson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe central rectangular block is surrounded by four dramatic angled wings. This complex but symmetrical design created one of the most memorable country-house plans in Worcestershire and is sometimes described as a precursor to the later butterfly plan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe house remained closely connected with the Pakington family and underwent further alterations during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was designated a Grade I-listed building in 1952.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Historic Chimneypiece\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe painting centres upon a richly carved wooden chimneypiece incorporating columns, architectural mouldings, heraldic elements and decorative panels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbove the mantel is the portrait of a gentleman dressed in a ruff and doublet. Whether representing a Tudor or early-Stuart ancestor, the portrait contributes to the room’s carefully cultivated sense of lineage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Long Gallery would traditionally have provided space for walking, conversation and the display of portraits, furniture and decorative objects. Such interiors acted as visible expressions of family history, rank and cultural inheritance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe subject’s identification is supported by a photographic view published in In English Homes in 1904 under the caption “The Chimney Piece in the Long Gallery.” Leonard’s watercolour predates that publication by thirteen years and records the interior during the closing decade of the Victorian period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE. Leonard\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eE. Leonard is named as the artist on the printed card attached to the reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt present, insufficient reliable biographical evidence has been located to connect the name conclusively with a documented exhibited artist. It would therefore be inappropriate to construct a detailed biography or claim membership of a particular artistic circle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watercolour itself demonstrates an understanding of perspective, architectural form and the behaviour of light within an interior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeonard’s approach belongs to the broader Victorian interest in recording historic buildings at a time when antiquarians, architects and artists were increasingly concerned with architectural preservation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Chessell Buckler and Architectural Watercolour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Chessell Buckler was born in 1793 and worked as both an architect and architectural draughtsman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether with his father, John Buckler, he contributed to an extensive visual record of Britain’s churches, monuments and historic buildings. Surviving examples demonstrate his use of transparent watercolour over carefully planned graphite drawing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe phrase “In the Manner of John Chessell Buckler” describes similarities of purpose and technique: controlled perspective, close architectural observation and the use of transparent washes to record a historic structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present work is not represented as being by Buckler. Its inclusion of furnishings, plants, coloured ceramics and firelight gives it an intimate quality beyond that of a formal architectural survey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrame and Conservation Presentation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watercolour has been newly mounted and framed to provide an elegant and protective presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts Larson-Juhl gilt moulding echoes the warm ochre and brown tones within the painting. A conservation-grade white mount, finished with a fine gold border, separates the paper safely from the glazing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAR70 low-reflection glass improves visibility by reducing glare while providing UV-reducing protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe complete work is ready to hang within a library, study, entrance hall or collection devoted to British architectural and country-house art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivate collection, Worcestershire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCurated and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivately loaned and exhibited in “Elegance \u0026amp; Memory: The Country House Interior in Watercolour.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFamous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire, Autumn 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFramed width: 51 cm \/ approximately 20.1 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFramed height: 41 cm \/ approximately 16.1 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFramed depth: 4 cm \/ approximately 1.6 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll dimensions are approximate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Report\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watercolour is in excellent overall visual condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts colours remain bright and stable. The paper displays only gentle toning consistent with a work dating from 1891.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo significant tears, major losses or active paper deterioration have been reported.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe painting has been newly mounted using conservation-grade materials and presented behind AR70 low-reflection glazing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Larson-Juhl gilt frame, mount and glazing are in pristine presentation condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease refer to the detailed photographs, which form an important part of the condition assessment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorldwide shipping is available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe framed watercolour will be professionally packed, fully insured and sent using a tracked service appropriate to its destination. Protective packing will be designed specifically for the frame and glazed artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease contact Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® for additional images, condition information or an individual international shipping quotation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribution \u0026amp; Research Notice\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe attribution, dating, subject identification, provenance research and historical interpretation contained within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe identification of E. Leonard, the date 1891 and the Westwood Park location are based upon the printed card retained on the reverse. The watercolour is unsigned. “In the Manner of John Chessell Buckler” is a comparative stylistic description and does not claim authorship by Buckler or an association with his studio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with all works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpecialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional photographs and further information are available upon request.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56115191611770,"sku":"CAC-SK-0427","price":4800.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0201\/2227\/1808\/files\/TheChimneypieceintheLongGallery_WestwoodHouse.jpg?v=1762097657","url":"https:\/\/cheshireantiquesconsultantltd.com\/en-beeubelgium\/products\/interior-painting-the-long-gallery-chimneypiece-westwood-house-worcestershire-c1891","provider":"Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}