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Lot Essay
Born in January 1902, David was Augustus and Ida's first child. His name was not settled on until the end of that year, he narrowly escaped 'Pharoah' and 'Honore' and was called Tony for much of his childhood, and occasionally Dafydd, being a quarter Welsh.
A strong-willed character, referred to as 'lord' of the great rhododendron bush at Alderney Manor, David was Head Boy at Dane Court School for two years. In a typically open-handed way John allowed his boys to choose their own schools at the ages of ten and twelve and David opted for Westminster.
David's relationship with his father was complex; he felt as much a Nettleship as a John and, along with his brothers, would go to great lengths to keep his exotic home life separate from his more ordered school life. As an adult he played down the connection with his famous father, referring to him as 'John' rather than 'my father'.
For many years David was an oboist in the Sadler's Wells orchestra and also worked as a postman and furniture restorer.
David figures in many of his father's drawings and paintings wearing the same large hat as seen in the present work. A pencil drawing David in a large hat, circa 1906, was in the collection of the late Morton Sands.
A strong-willed character, referred to as 'lord' of the great rhododendron bush at Alderney Manor, David was Head Boy at Dane Court School for two years. In a typically open-handed way John allowed his boys to choose their own schools at the ages of ten and twelve and David opted for Westminster.
David's relationship with his father was complex; he felt as much a Nettleship as a John and, along with his brothers, would go to great lengths to keep his exotic home life separate from his more ordered school life. As an adult he played down the connection with his famous father, referring to him as 'John' rather than 'my father'.
For many years David was an oboist in the Sadler's Wells orchestra and also worked as a postman and furniture restorer.
David figures in many of his father's drawings and paintings wearing the same large hat as seen in the present work. A pencil drawing David in a large hat, circa 1906, was in the collection of the late Morton Sands.