FDA-P.199-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-P.199-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
Walter Durnford, MA, CBE
Description
Three-quarter length portrait of a man, dressed in academic robes, seated in a chair
Comments
This portrait was initially presented to the sitter, by Old Boys of his boarding house and former pupils at Eton, along with a presentation volume in a slipcase, now held in the Eton College Archives (see: ED 250 04 04 15).
The portrait first hung in School Hall, at Eton, one of the two 'Memorial Buildings' (School Hall and School Library were built to commemorate those who fell in the Boer War). The arrival of the portrait is recorded in 'The Eton College Chronicle':
'Memorial Buildings: The most important addition of the year is the portrait of Mr. Walter Durnford, Fellow of Eton (among other things), presented by his pupils to the College. It is an excellent likeness, by Mr. Cope, R.A.'
[Source: The Eton College Chronicle, 30 December 1914, No. 1512, p.709]
Sir Walter Durnford was born in 1847 and died in 1926.
He served as Assistant Master at Eton from 1870-1899; Fellow of Eton from 1910; Provost of King's College Cambridge 1918.
Additional portraits of Durnford include:
- portrait by Sir William Orpen, 1924 (King's College, Cambridge)
- Leslie Ward ('Spy') caricature, chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair, 4 December 1902
The portrait first hung in School Hall, at Eton, one of the two 'Memorial Buildings' (School Hall and School Library were built to commemorate those who fell in the Boer War). The arrival of the portrait is recorded in 'The Eton College Chronicle':
'Memorial Buildings: The most important addition of the year is the portrait of Mr. Walter Durnford, Fellow of Eton (among other things), presented by his pupils to the College. It is an excellent likeness, by Mr. Cope, R.A.'
[Source: The Eton College Chronicle, 30 December 1914, No. 1512, p.709]
Sir Walter Durnford was born in 1847 and died in 1926.
He served as Assistant Master at Eton from 1870-1899; Fellow of Eton from 1910; Provost of King's College Cambridge 1918.
Additional portraits of Durnford include:
- portrait by Sir William Orpen, 1924 (King's College, Cambridge)
- Leslie Ward ('Spy') caricature, chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair, 4 December 1902
Description
Content (person)
Durnford, Walter (Sir), 1847 - 1926 (Sitter)
Dimensions
height (sight size): 1310mm
width (sight size): 920mm
height (frame): 1522mm
width (frame): 1133mm
depth (frame): 64mm
width (sight size): 920mm
height (frame): 1522mm
width (frame): 1133mm
depth (frame): 64mm
Inscription
Signed and dated on recto: 'A. Cope 1914'
Identification label on frame: presented by his old pupils
Printed label on verso, with lettering:
'Mr A.J. Cope / Little Camden House / Kensington / Athenaeum Club'
Inscribed in pen and ink, possilbly in the artist's hand: 'W. Durnford Esq for Eton College (3)'
Identification label on frame: presented by his old pupils
Printed label on verso, with lettering:
'Mr A.J. Cope / Little Camden House / Kensington / Athenaeum Club'
Inscribed in pen and ink, possilbly in the artist's hand: 'W. Durnford Esq for Eton College (3)'
Materials & techniques note
Oil on canvas
Physical description
Carved gilt frame
Production
Person
Cope, Arthur Stockdale, 1857 - 1940 (Artist)
Date
1914
History and association
Object history note
Provenance: Commissioned in c.1913 by Old Boys of the sitter's boarding house and his former pupils at Eton, for presentation to Eton College
Exhibited: Royal Academy, London, 1914, catalogue number 700, as 'W. Durnford Esq., Presented to Eton College'
Exhibited: Royal Academy, London, 1914, catalogue number 700, as 'W. Durnford Esq., Presented to Eton College'
