Object Of The Month
Henley from the Wargrave Road is one of very few paintings in existence showing Henley during the 1600s. It was painted in 1698 by Jan Siberechts. Siberechts’ landscapes were based on observation and although some elements of the picture are imaginary, we can use parts as a visual record to add to our understanding of Henley’s history.
Jan Siberechts would probably have been hired or commissioned to paint this view of Henley by a wealthy inhabitant of the town. He was one of many painters who came from the Netherlands after the restoration of Charles II to the English throne. In the 1600s, it was common for landowners to hire artists to produce paintings showing their land. This was a way of recording and displaying their status and wealth. Several wealthy landowners lived around Henley at the time but who hired him remains a puzzle.
In 1672 many trees on the hills surrounding Henley were felled and taken to London by boat to rebuild homes destroyed in the 1666 Great Fire of London. This painting shows tree-less hills and piles of timber stacked at the riverside, waiting to be loaded on boats bound for London.
There will be a lecture on the painting at the River & Rowing Museum on Saturday 26 April at 11:30am, £5, (£3 members). More details in our What's On section.