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Art at Locko Park

 
A fine art collection is practically synonymous with the English country house, and Locko has been no exception. Painting acquired on 'grand tours' of Europe have hung in the picture galleries alongside portraits of ancestors. And (as is so often the case with these collections) key works have been sold as new owners succeeded to the estate, driven by differing artistic taste or simple financial necessity.

A key figure behind the arts acquisitions of Locko was William Drury Lowe (1803-1877). Between 1840 and 1865 he acquired over 300 works, many during his European travels. Key works acquired were those often referred to as 'Italian primitives'. These are works from blah blah blah.

William Drury Lowe's eldest son, William Nathanial Drury Lowe, succeeded to the estate in 1877. He shared his father's love of art, and commissioned Italianate painted ceilings in the galleries to complement the paintings.

His eldest son, William Drury Lowe, sold twelve paintings, including some of those seen as the most important in the collection (see Portrait of Duke Ercole of Ferrara, below). Other works have since been auctioned, but the collection still represents a significant contribution to the study of Italian 'primitive' art.

As the house is not open to the public, the paintings are, sadly, not available for viewing. The collection has been documented a number of times over the years, by Dr. Waagan in 1857, and by Dr. J P Richter in 1901 (commissioned by William Nathanial Drury-Lowe).
 
An exhibition of notable works from the collection was held in 1968, at the Nottingham University Art Gallery.

The Locko Collection has included works by Andrea del Castago, Canaletto, de Momper, Paul Bril, Daniel Mytens, Arthur Devis and Joseph Wright.

 

 

The Youthful David, Andrea del Castago

Brought to Locko by William Drury Lowe, this is now exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, USA. The work is a painted parade shield, a true rarity. Note the curved shape (see illustration, top right).

A feature of early Italian art was to present a whole story within the picture rather than a 'snap-shot' of the action - David's sling is loaded and ready, but Goliath's head already lies at David's feet.

Two points of note - artists in Florence often painted images of David as the city itself saw itself as a David up against the Goliaths of Milan and Venice, and the idea of God being David's shield is recorded in the Book of Psalms.
 

Duke Ercole of Ferrara, Cosimo Tura

Originally ascribed to Piero della Francesca, now attributed to Cosimo di Domenico di Bonaventura. Most likely to have been cut down from a larger work.
 

Antwerp, Joos de Momper

Formerly attributed to Jan Brughel, this harvesting scene is in the great landscape tradition of Pieter Brughel the Elder.


Key Works
 

The Youthful David, Andrea del Castago

 
 

National Gallery of Art, Washington, USA
www.nga.gov

 

Saint John the Evangelist,
 Sienese School, 14th C

 
 
 

Duke Ercole of Ferrara, Cosimo Tura

   
 

Metropolitan Museum
of Art, USA
www.metmuseum.org

 

Christ carrying
 the cross
,
 Francesco Bacchiacca

   
   
 

St. Catherine of Alexandria,
Bernado Daddi

 
   
   

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