12/10/2011

Issued by City of York Council

Visitors and residents can now view a collection of some of the city's most influential figures and famous historical sights online.

Iconic moments of York's history have been captured on canvas and can usually only be viewed on the walls of the Mansion House and Guildhall. But now, for the first time, they can also be viewed all over the world online at http://bbc.in/rmg60V.

Cllr Julie Gunnell, cabinet member for corporate services, said: "This is the first time that the collection has been brought together online and it is hoped that it will prove fascinating for art historians and art lovers everywhere."

Famous pieces of art include a portrait of George Hudson and a painting of the scene of Margaret Clitherow's execution.

The portrait of the Lord Mayor George Hudson (or the Railway King as he was also known as) was painted by Francis Grant in 1847. Hudson was a ‘self-made' man and made his fortune on the railway. He went on to become one of the wealthiest men in England. However, not long after the painting was hung in the Mansion House, George's irregular financial arrangements became known and eventually he was imprisoned and died a pauper.

The inscription on the frame of the painting recounting the affection that the citizens felt for him was partly obliterated when the painting was taken down in disgrace. The painting now hangs back in the Mansion House, minus a complete inscription.

Perhaps one of its most romantic images on display is The Old Bridge over the River Ouse, York painted in 1809 by Henry Cave. Painted in August of that year just before the bridge was pulled down to make way for a new larger bridge. The bridge, with the ‘fairest arch north of Venice', was home to the council chamber, a chapel and the sheriff's prison. It was also the scene of execution of Margaret Clitherow in 1586, who was canonised in 1970.
The stateroom in the Mansion House is the home of eight full-sized portraits, which is often referred to as an eighteenth century hall of fame. There are portraits of kings, a prince, a prime minister and lord mayors.

The artists include Reynolds, Hudson, Highmore and Hoppner and many of the mayoral portraits are examples of multiple artists being involved in the completion of a work. For example, Hudson painted the portrait of George Fox-Lane in London in 1758 and the portrait was then sent back to York for the ‘local' details of one of York's medieval gateways and Nathaniel Drake's regalia to be added.

The online archive of publicly owned paintings has been bought together in partnership with The Public Catalogue Foundation and the BBC.

For anyone who would like to view the paintings in person in the Mansion House or Guildhall, opening times are Thursdays - Saturdays 11am, 12.30 and 2pm.

(ENDS)