Oil painting by John Sergeant, Interior of a Gothic room showing Rev. Francis Skurray with his niece Miss Kitty George at his Parsonage, Horningsham, Wiltshire

Interior of a Gothic room showing Rev. Francis Skurray with his niece Miss Kitty George at his Parsonage, Horningsham, Wiltshire

Purchased, 2005

Purchased, 2005.
The Gothic room was built in 1839 by the Reverend Francis Skurray (1774-1848). In it were hanging pictures by artists identified on the back by an inscription by Richard Ward to whom Skurray gave it as a souvenir in 1845.

Historical significance: This painting, executed in 1839-40, provides a highly detailed record of a newly built neo-Gothic room in the Parsonage at Horningsham, Wiltshire. On the back of the painting is a label which describes the subject as a 'Gothic room' and identifies the paintings as a group of Italian and Dutch Old Masters, including works by Guercino, Titian, Francesco Solimena, Sassoferrato and Ruisdael. The label also records that an 'ancient chest' supported by figures representing the seasons, depicted on the right of the room, was found near Glastonbury.

The room was built in 1839 by the Rev. Francis Skurray (1774-1848), evidently as a private gallery for his distinguished collection. Skurray is shown in the painting with his niece, Miss Kitty George. The label also records that a portrait of Skurray hung above the entrance door, not visible in this view. Skurray was best known as a poet, the author of the rural and descriptive poem 'Bidcombe Hill', as well as a volume of sonnets and a metrical version of the Psalms. Little is known about the painter John Sergeant; he is probably to be identified with the artist who exhibited at the British Institution in 1824-39 and at the Royal Academy in 1828-33.

In December 1845 Skurray gave this painting to Richard Ward, presumably a friend, as a 'little Souvenir'. A dedication copy of his sonnets, also given to Richard Ward in 1841, is now in the Universtiy Library of Southern Carolina. It includes a watercolour of Skurray by Ward, which appears to derive from the oil painting by Sergeant.

This painting, executed in 1839-40, provides a highly detailed record of a room in the Parsonage at Horningsham, Wiltshire. On the back of the painting is a label which describes the subject as a 'Gothic room' and identifies the paintings as a group of Italian and Dutch Old Masters, including works by Guercino, Titian, Francesco Solimena, Sassoferrato and Ruisdael. The room was built in 1839 by the Rev. Francis Skurray (1774-1848), evidently as a private gallery for his distinguished collection; he is shown in the painting with his niece, Miss Kitty George. Skurray was best known as a poet, the author of the rural and descriptive poem 'Bidcome Hill', as well as a volume of sonnets and a metrical version of the Psalms.

E.407:1, 2-2005