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A View through a House

Image credit: National Trust Images

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This perspective view through a succession of rooms is a striking example of the work of this Dutch artist, known for his trompe-l’oeil paintings which 'fool the eye'. The artist draws the viewer through an archway, above which hangs a birdcage, into a staircase hall in which a dog and a cat loiter, and on into two further rooms beyond, where men and women are seated at a table. This painting was purchased for Dyrham Park by William Blathwayt I (1649?–1717) from his uncle, Thomas Povey (1613/1614–c.1705). The diarists Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn noted how Povey had displayed this painting when they visited his house in the 1660s. Pepys wrote: 'I do the most admire his piece of perspective especially, he opening me the closet door and there I saw that there is nothing but only a plain picture hung upon the wall.

National Trust, Dyrham Park

near Bath

Title

A View through a House

Date

1662

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 264 x W 136.5 cm

Accession number

453733

Acquisition method

purchased by Colnaghi for the National Trust from the sale of paintings from Dyrham Park at Sotheby's, 1956

Work type

Painting

Normally on display at

National Trust, Dyrham Park

Dyrham, near Bath, Gloucestershire SN14 8ER England

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