Oil painting, 'Very Important - A Man Writing at a Table', William Henry Haines, 1878

Bequeathed by Joshua Dixon

Bequeathed by Joshua Dixon, 1886

Historical significance: William Henry Haines (1812-1884) was a London-based landscape and genre painter. He exhibited from 1843 to 1884 at the Society of British Artists, the British Institution and the Royal Academy (1848-81). According to Christopher Wood, 'he is also known to have painted views of Venice in the manner of Canaletto and Guardi, which were passed off as originals.' (Christopher Wood, Dictionary of Victorian Painters, 1971, p.57.)

This painting, Very Important, shows a middle-aged man in 18th century dress sitting at a desk and writing with a quill pen, with an expression of concentration on his face. Both the title and period detail are suggestive of a background narrative (who is this man? what is 'very important'?) without actually supplying it.

The painting was no. 279 at the 1879 Society of British Artists, priced at £12.

This painting was bequeathed to the V&A by Joshua Dixon (1811-1885), a successful cotton merchant. In addition to oil paintings, watercolours and drawings, his collection also included engravings, Japanese vases and panels, and bronze and marble sculpture. Born in Dalston, north-east London, Dixon died on his estate of Winslade Park in Somerset and left his collection initially to the Bethnal Green Museum, which is part of the V&A, for the 'benefit of the people of East London.'

1012-1886