~ Horse Guards – Watercolour Painting by Nora Davison (1881-1905) ~
A beautiful painting by Nora Davison with dismounted horse guards outside their building in London.
The painting is signed by the artist to the lower the left corner.
On the back is a label from the art dealership ‘The Parker Gallery’ of London.
On the back of the frame, on top of the label is written ‘NORA DAVISON DIED 1905’.
It is presented in its original oak glazed frame with a golden single mount.
Provenance: Bonhams.
~ Dimensions ~
The painting is 34.5 cm (13.6 inches) high by 25 cm (9.9 inches) wide.
The frame has a height of 54.5 cm (21.5 inches), a width of 44 cm (17.2 inches) and a depth of 1 inch (2.5cm).
It weighs 2.35 kg.
~ Condition ~
The painting is in excellent condition aside from a few minor foxing spots. The colours remain strong.
The frame is in good order.
~ Horse Guards Building ~
Horse Guards is a large grade I listed building in the Palladian style between Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade in London, England. The first Horse Guards building was built on the site of the former tiltyard of Westminster Palace in 1664. It was demolished in 1749 and was replaced by the current building which was built between 1751 and 1753 by John Vardy to a design by William Kent. Horse Guards Road runs north-south on the western boundary of the parade ground, while Horse Guards Avenue runs east from Whitehall on other side of the building, to Victoria Embankment.
The building served as the offices of the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces until 1904 when the post was abolished and replaced by the Chief of the General Staff. The Chief of the General staff moved to the Old War Office Building in 1906 and Horse Guards subsequently became the headquarters of two major Army commands: the London District and the Household Cavalry. The building is the formal entrance to St James’s Palace via St. James’s Park (though this is now entirely symbolic). Only the monarch is allowed to drive through its central archway, or those given a pass (formerly made of ivory).