John Piper

Gifted by Dorothy Elmhirst to The Dartington Hall Trust, 25th March 1965

London, Royal Albert Museum, Loan Exhibition: Modern Art, cat. no.8 (details untraced).

The sheet is sound and is cockling slightly. The sheet is not laid down but is adhered to the mount about the edges. The sheet is discoloured and there are spots of foxing across the surface, primarily to the church and sky. Held under glass in a painted and gilt frame with a grey mount. Please telephone the department on 020 7293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Having been impressed by a recent exhibition of John Piper's Windsor Castle drawings, Leonard Elmhirst wrote to the artist in the spring of 1943, inviting him to stay and work at Dartington. Leonard felt the arresting architecture and landscape of the place would appeal to Piper's particular sensibilities-
'I have an idea that these fourteenth century walls would give you a rather special experience ' (Leonard Elmhirst, letter to John Piper, 29^th March 1943).

While much of Piper's time during the war was occupied recording the effects of German bombing on towns and cities throughout England and Wales, he took up the offer and painted at Dartington for a short period over the summer. The trip was produced a group of paintings and successful sketches. Several of these were apparently promised to the Elmhirsts to hang at Dartington, however by 1946 these were as of yet incomplete, and the Elmhirsts were desperate to have them as soon as they were possibly available:

'Many a time my husband and I have been on the point of writing you to ask about the paintings of Dartington Hall. We both realize the demands that are made upon you and the difficulty of finishing these paintings for us. But we want to beg you to let us have them as they are.....' (Dorothy Elmhirst, letter to John Piper, 25^th October 1946).