Oil painting, 'Cottage Interior', formerly 'Follower of George Morland', now Anonymous, British School, about 1800

Given by Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence, Bt

Given by Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence, Bart., 1901
Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence (1837-1914) was born in London, the son of William Lawrence, Alderman. He was educated at University College School, University College London (BA, 1861 and LLB with honours). He married Edith Jane Durning Smith in 1874, the daughter and co-heiress of politician John Benjamin Smith.
During 1867, Durning-Lawrence was called to Middle Temple and also was a member of the Metropolitan Board of Works for a short time, as well as a Lieutenant for the City of London and a Justice of the Peace in Berkshire. He was elected as Liberal Unionist member of Parliament for Truro in 1895; a position he held until 1906. Durning-Lawrence's main interest was literature, especially the Bacon/ Shakespeare controversy; he was the author of Bacon is Shakespeare (1910) and The Shakespeare Myth (1912). In 1901 he gave to the V&A thirteen paintings, museum numbers 620 to 633-1901.

Historical significance: A note on the Departmental File states, "When exhibited (1959) in Room 120 [V&A], it was decided to label 625-1901 'English School, c.1800'. It seems to have nothing to do with Morland". Unfortunately, referreing to V&A catalogues dating from the early part of the 20th century, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Summary Catalogue of British Paintings, 1973, repeated the older description of this painting as "Follower of George Morland", which in turn has been repeated in The Public Catalogue Foundation: Oil Paintings in Public Ownership: The Victoria & Albert Museum (2008), p.223. The reattribution of 1959 should however stand. This image does not share any significant qualities with the work of George Morland and should not be associated with that artist.

625-1901