Artwork
The Clavey family in their garden at Hampstead
The Clavey family in their garden at Hampstead is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Arthur Devis. It dates from 1754 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria.
About this work
They are dressed in 18th-century clothing, with the men in suits and the women in long dresses.
This painting shows a family of eight in a garden. They are dressed in 18th-century clothing, with the men in suits and the women in long dresses. The family is spread out across the scene, with some standing and others sitting.
The family is shown in a relaxed setting, with the children playing and the adults chatting. The garden is lush and green, with trees and bushes in the background.
The painting is a portrait of the Clavey family, created by Arthur Devis in 1754. It is now held at the National Gallery of Victoria. Next, explore more works by Arthur Devis.
Overview
Painted in 1754 by Arthur Devis, *The Clavey family in their garden at Hampstead* is an oil painting depicting an intimate outdoor gathering of the Clavey family in their lush garden. Now part of the National Gallery of Victoria's collection, it exemplifies Devis's work within the Rococo movement.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a serene, everyday moment of the Clavey family in their Hampstead garden. Eight family members, dressed in 18th-century attire, are shown in relaxed postures—some standing, others sitting—amidst playful children and conversing adults, conveying a sense of familial comfort and leisure.
Technique & Style
Characteristic of Devis's conversation pieces, the work employs oil paint to achieve a warm, Rococo-style portrayal. The composition spreads the family across the scene, set against a vibrant, green backdrop of trees and bushes, highlighting Devis's ability to balance detail with atmospheric setting.
History & Provenance
Created in 1754, the painting reflects Devis's established reputation in London portraiture at the time, following his training under a Flemish artist. It is now held in the National Gallery of Victoria's collection, outlasting the eventual decline in popularity of Devis's later works as artistic tastes evolved.
Artist & collection
Artist
Arthur Devis (19 February 1712 – 25 July 1787) was an English painter whose father, Anthony, was progenitor of what became a family dynasty of painters and writers.
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