This early 20th-century oil painting by British artist Charles H. H. Burleigh (1869-1956) depicts an area of a dining room. It’s possibly his own home.
Standing somewhat proudly atop a splendid parquet floor, a handsome mahogany bow front sideboard. Polished to a near-mirror finish and reflecting the octagonal forms of Chinese blue and white porcelain. On either side are dining chairs. It’s a remarkably tasteful ensemble.
Burleigh was a master of interior scenes and well-admired for those of his own rooms. Both his wife and daughter were accomplished painters, his house was a hive of artistic endeavour. There are two other works which may potentially feature the same porcelain and/or chairs:
An Afternoon Read (Sotheby’s, 2005)
The Dining-Room at No.46 Sussex Square (Gorringes, 2010)
The second dates to circa 1943 and was commissioned by Anthony Dale who lived at Sussex Square between 1912 and 1993. The date of the first is unknown.
Ours dates to circa 1910 and given the similarity with the porcelain in ‘An Afternoon Read’, it seems likely that they belong to the same owner. But it’s not clear whether the owner is Burleigh himself, Anthony Dale or someone else. Intriguingly, he also produced a piece depicting the dining room of writer Virginia Woolf.
Signed lower left and held within a gilt frame with foliate.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 19½” x 23½” / 50cm x 60cm
Year of creation: c. 1910
Labels & Inscriptions: Label on reverse with artist’s biography.
Provenance: Private collection, England.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Fine craquelure but the paint is stable. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £42,025
Charles Henry Harrison Burleigh was an accomplished British painter of interiors, landscapes and scenes. He trained at the Brighton School of Art and later in Paris. His works are held in numerous public collections including at the Imperial War Museum. He was a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours.
Learn more about Charles H. H. Burleigh in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
