Lot 72: William Logsdail (British, 1859-1944) The Porch, The University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford

William Logsdail (British, 1859-1944)
The Porch, The University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford
signed 'W. Logsdail' (lower right)
oil on canvasboard
40.6 x 30.5cm (16 x 12in).

Footnotes

• Provenance
  Private collection, UK.
  
  Exhibited
  London, The New Gallery, Summer Exhibition, 1909.
  
  The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is located on the north side of the High Street in Oxford, and is the centre from which the University of Oxford grew. The oldest part of the church is the tower built in 1280.
  
  Depicted in the present lot is the baroque porch, designed by Nicholas Stone in the early 17th century. Highly ornate, it frames a niche with a statue of the Virgin and Child. The wrought iron gates are early 18th century.
  
  Logsdail was born in the Close of Lincoln Cathedral where his father was a verger. He was initially talented at architecture however with the encouragement of Edward R. Taylor, he committed to painting, although he often returned to architectural subjects. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of British Artists, the Grosvenor Gallery and as a label on the reverse of the present lot indicates, the New Gallery, London.