Accession Number

986.005.001b

Description

A framed oil painting on canvas depicting flowers in a single-footed jardinere, at its base fallen apples and figs.

Narrative

This painting's past ownership by the Dunsmuir family at Hatley Park makes it an important object in Craigdarroch's collection.

When it was consigned to the auction where The Castle Society bought it in 1986, the work was attributed to Paul Theodor van Brussel (Dutch, 1754-1795). In 1988, art historian Dr. Christina J.A. Wansink of the Netherlands Institute for Art History in The Hague, examined photographs of the painting and stated "...your flower pieces are not by P. Th. van Brussel. Judging from the photographs they date from a later period and are not Netherlandish." In May 2005 while visiting the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico, Curator Bruce Davies unexpectedly encountered a painting with remarkable similarities to this one. It was by the artist Charles Bigee (Flemish, 18th C).   

This painting and 986.005.002 were cleaned and re-varnished in 2000. No signature could be seen during that process. It is hoped that the artist of this painting will eventually be identified.

History of Use

This painting was purchased by The Castle Society on March 23, 1986 at the Hubert A. Wallace Estate auction conducted by Victoria's Lund's Auctioneers Ltd. It was described in the sale catalogue as "Lot 399 Oil painting attributed to P.T. Brussel 'Still Life - Flowers' 37" X 27", also from Hatley Castle." 

Hubert A. Wallace and Mrs. Wallace resided at their mansion, Riffington, situated at 3175 Beach Drive in Oak Bay. This painting hung on their dining room wall. Their son-in-law, Eric Charman, informed Lund's Auctioneers that this picture and 986.005.002  had once been used by the Dunsmuir family at Hatley Park, in Colwood, B.C. That is why that information was included in Lund's sale catalogue. The catalogue for Laura Miller Dunsmuir's Estate auction held June 1-6, 1939 at Hatley Park (see: 984.064.002 ) does not describe any oil paintings that resemble 986.005.001 and 986.005.002.

Curiously, the Hatley Park auction catalogue lists only seven oil paintings. It is possible that the Dunsmuir family pre-sold certain objects or kept them from being sold at the auction. For example, no kitchen equipment, automobiles or items of clothing were auctioned.

Various Wallace and Dunsmuir family members would have known one another during the 20th Century, and so, while there is weak documentary evidence that this painting was used at Hatley Park, it is reasonable to conclude that the story is true. 

Date

18th century

Dimensions

97.5 x 75.5 cm
Frame: 103 cm X 82 cm

Artwork Title

untitled