Reserved
Jean Clark
(1902 - 1999)
Study for the Committee Room of the London Bankers Clearing House, 1958
Reserved
Jean Clark (1902 - 1999)
Size:
Height – 18cm
Width – 42cm
Hall, an architect and friend of the artist, for the Bankers’ Clearing House, which occupied the eastern part
of Coutts and Co., 15 Lombard Street, (completed in 1955 by the architectural practice of Whinney, Smith
& Austen Hall). The finished mural, which measured over 6 ft in height, was worked on in Jean Clark’s
St. Peters Square studio. The panels depict Transport, Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Science, and are
flanked either side and along the top by motifs taken from token coins (used as an alternative to small
change, for example by pubs or fairgrounds). When the Clearing House relocated in 1992 the original
panels were removed and acquired by the Museum of London.
The term tempera refers to any painting medium consisting of coloured pigments mixed with a water-
soluble binder, usually egg yolk. Typically painted on a ground prepared with gesso, tempera is characterised
by the fact that it does not afford areas of impasto (textured paint) and dries quickly and therefore colours
cannot be blended.
Design for Mural for the Committee Room of the London clearing Bankers,
In an original Alfred Syles fruit wood wedge section frame with gesso window mount, overall size 65 x 150 cm.
Main image showing 3 panels. Entire study consists of the following 7 panels:
Exhibibited: Royal Academy, 1958, (933)
This design was commissioned by Austen Hall, an architect and friend of Clarke’s, for the Bankers Clearing House, which occupied the eastern part of Coutts and Co. 15 Lombard Street, (completed in 1955 by the architectural practice of Whinney, Smith & Austen Hall). Once Clark’s design had been submitted and approved the finished Murals, which measured well over 6 ft in height, were worked upto in Clark’s St. Peters Square studio. The panels depict Transport, Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Science. The two panels to either side, and along the top, show mofits taken from token coins – money made (sometime officially, sometimes unofficially) as an alternative to small change, for example for used by pubs or fairgrounds. When the Clearing House relocated in 1992 the original panels were removed and acquired by the Museum of London.
We are grateful to Michael Barker for assistance
Painter, born in Sidcup, Kent, who was married to the artist Cosmo Clark. She
studied at Sidcup School of Art, 1913-19, and Royal Academy Schools, 1920, and
after at Richard Sickert School of Painting, Broadstairs. She was made a member
of RWS in 1972, and she had a retrospective at Bankside gallery in 1983; she was
made an honorary member of the NEAC in 1981. Additionally exhibited at BBA and
NEAC. Completed murals for Corpus Christi Church in Weston-super-Mare and
ceiling painting for Woodford Green United Free Church. Lived in London, later
in Shottisham; died in Saxstead, Suffolk. Chappel Galleries, Chappel, held a
joint jean and Cosmo Clark show in 2002.
