Paul Ayshford Methuen, 4th Baron Methuen of Corsham (1886 -1974)
Painter, zoologist and landowner, he was the first child of Field Marshal Paul Sandford Methuen, 3rd Baron. After Eton and reading Engineering and Zoology at New College, Oxford, he worked in the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria collecting and describing southern African species. He served with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry in both the First and Second World Wars, moving to the Procurement and Fine Art branch in 1944, (the ‘Monuments Men’ of the 2014 film) set up to protect works of art after the invasion.
He had studied drawing at Eton and sporadically afterwards, but in 1927 he attended art classes given by Walter Sickert which influenced his style; his preferred subjects were urban views or scenes with buildings, plants and animals. During the Second World War he painted for the War Artists’ Advisory Committee, several of his works being held by the Imperial War Museum, including impressive paintings of invasion craft under construction in the London docks. After the war he devoted his life to his ancestral seat, Corsham Hall, restoring it, acquiring further works for it, and giving it to the Bath Academy of Art. Latterly it was acquired by Bath Spa University. He became a Royal Academician in 1972.
His works are in major collections including the Tate, Royal Academy, National Portrait Gallery, City of London, Birmingham Museums, Wellcome Collection, Government Art Collection and National Maritime Museum.
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Paul Ayshford Methuen, 4th Baron Methuen of Corsham (1886 -1974)
Corsham Court
Oil on Board Signed and dated 1957 9x11 inches Corsham Court is home to the Barons Methuen. For biographical details and other works by the artist click here. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. -
Paul Ayshford Methuen (1886 - 1974)
Barrage Balloons, Regents Park, 9 March 1940
Oil on board 36 x 52 cm Signed lower left and titled and dated lower centre. Lord Methuen's oil painting of Regent's Park on a winter's day, with barrage balloons above. Barrage balloons were set up - stationed at an altitude of around 4,000 ft - as a barrier to enemy aircraft. The steel cables used to tether the balloons would take an enemy aeroplane out of the sky if it were to hit the cable. The UK had thousands of them, filled partly with hydrogen and operated largely by women, to protect significant towns, cities, and military installations. These strange blobs floated over the country, just asking to be captured by artists. Methuen had rejoined his regiment (serving as a Captain) in 1939 but was likely stationed in London for a while, when he might have had the opportunity to capture this scene. When Methuen painted the scene in 1940, Britain was still in the stage of the phoney war. The Battle of Britain did not commence until 10 July, and the Blitz not until 7 September - but Britain's defences were ready. Barrage balloons were important all the way through the War: they defended London against the V2 missiles; they defended the D-Day invasion fleet; and they protected the invasion army for months. Indeed, it was said that the vast amount of material brought into the UK from the States prior to D-Day would have caused Britain to sink under the sea, were it not for the huge number of barrage balloons holding the country up... Condition: excellent. Recently revarnished. If you’d like to know more, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.