THE INTERIOR OF CRYSTAL PALACE

BLANCHE EXECUTED THREE OTHER KNOWN VERSIONS OF DEPICTIONS OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE AT SYDENHAM: HE PAINTED THE EXTERIOR TWICE IN JUNE 1907 AND THE INTERIOR IN 1911 WITH A TREATMENT OF THE ROYAL TOURNAMENT DURING THE CORONATION CELEBRATIONS OF GEORGE V (MUSéE DE ROUEN). IN VIEW OF THE RANGE OF NATIONAL FLAGS HANGING FROM THE CEILING, THIS WORK MAY REPRESENT THE WORLD FAIR OF 1907. BLANCHE WAS DRAWN TO THE COLOUR AND BUSTLE OF SUCH INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, AND IN 1924 HE PAINTED SEVERAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION HELD AT WEMBLEY.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO JANE ROBERTS FOR HER ASSISTANCE IN THE CATALOGUING OF THIS WORK. SHE WILL INCLUDE THE PRESENT PICTURE IN HER FORTHCOMING JACQUES-ÉMILE BLANCHE CATALOGUE RAISONNé.