Lot Essay
Sir Francis Dashwood, 2nd Bt. (1708-1781), also called Lord Le Despencer, inherited West Wycombe on the death of his father in 1724. Although he held two government posts - Chancellor of the Exchequer and Postmaster General - he is perhaps best known for being a great traveller, a dilettante and creator of the Hell-Fire Club. He married Sarah, daughter and heiress of Thomas Gould but there were no children of the marriage, and on his death the title devolved upon his half brother.
West Wycombe was built in the early 18th Century with gardens laid out in the formal manner. In 1750 Sir Francis began redesigning the Park and it took the next thirty years to carry out all his schemes, with Humphrey Repton if charge of landscaping the grounds. The present picture shows the lake, which Repton had to damn the River Wye to form, framed by little bridges, with an island created in the middle, and the mausoleum and church beyond. In the mid eighteenth century sets of engravings showing the gardens and grounds of houses were very fashinable. In 1759-1777 a group of print-sellers gathered together a collection of such views that could be engraved and sold in sets. William Hannan's views of West Wycombe, which had been painted about 1752, were engraved by William Woollett in 1754-7, and proved very popular when published as the house and grounds had become something of a tourist attraction for those making the journey from London to Oxford.
Hannan not only painted a set of views of the house and grounds at West Wycombe, but also executed neo-classical ceiling designs and a fresco in the West portico entitled 'Chariot of the Night' in 1770. He also seems to have acted in the capacity of financial advisor and agent for Sir Francis. The present picture is very similar to one of the set of views at West Wycombe but with differences in the foreground; the present picture has deer grazing whereas the other painting has gardeners scything the grass. There is also less of the tree on the extreme left. Other versions of the painting, also exist (see J. Harris, The Artist and the Country House, 1979, p. 200, no. 205)
It is also interesting for the fact theat it shows the house before the changes were made and the classical front rebuilt.
West Wycombe was built in the early 18th Century with gardens laid out in the formal manner. In 1750 Sir Francis began redesigning the Park and it took the next thirty years to carry out all his schemes, with Humphrey Repton if charge of landscaping the grounds. The present picture shows the lake, which Repton had to damn the River Wye to form, framed by little bridges, with an island created in the middle, and the mausoleum and church beyond. In the mid eighteenth century sets of engravings showing the gardens and grounds of houses were very fashinable. In 1759-1777 a group of print-sellers gathered together a collection of such views that could be engraved and sold in sets. William Hannan's views of West Wycombe, which had been painted about 1752, were engraved by William Woollett in 1754-7, and proved very popular when published as the house and grounds had become something of a tourist attraction for those making the journey from London to Oxford.
Hannan not only painted a set of views of the house and grounds at West Wycombe, but also executed neo-classical ceiling designs and a fresco in the West portico entitled 'Chariot of the Night' in 1770. He also seems to have acted in the capacity of financial advisor and agent for Sir Francis. The present picture is very similar to one of the set of views at West Wycombe but with differences in the foreground; the present picture has deer grazing whereas the other painting has gardeners scything the grass. There is also less of the tree on the extreme left. Other versions of the painting, also exist (see J. Harris, The Artist and the Country House, 1979, p. 200, no. 205)
It is also interesting for the fact theat it shows the house before the changes were made and the classical front rebuilt.