The church interior below is believed to be by Margaret and depicts 'The Baron's Chapel' at Haddon Hall, a favourite Rayner subject with versions by Samuel, Margaret, Louise and Frances.
The painting was in an antique shop in Liverpool pre-1944 and the shop owner gave it to the recent owner in 1977. The signature (not visible here) is in the bottom left corner and the surname is spelt "Raynor". The image picks up a flash reflection at the top, but is otherwise a nice clear view, presented courtesy of Betty Carpenter and George Bramall.
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 | Margaret Rayner's chapel interior (left), and an August 2003 photo which shows that the chapel has undergone restoration since. The arch and pulpit remain, but are off-camera here. |
 Right: a fragment from a larger picture by Samuel Rayner (not to hand and title unknown) which shows the pulpit in the Baron's Chapel at Haddon Hall. The young girl has slightly unreal 2-dimensional appearance, like a paper drawing cut out and added to the painting, though the subtlety of the girl's features are convincing.
The painting could be circa 1830, or from the later period when Sam's daughters were getting old enough to practice their own art skills. It's even possible that the subject was one of his daughters.
Samuel included an engraved view of the chapel in his 1836 illustrated book about Haddon, and it is also the subject of one of his last paintings exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery Liverpool, Autumn Exhibition 1875.
Below, another engraving by Samuel, this time showing the long gallery, known then as the banqueting gallery. In reducing this image to fit the screen, the texture of the engraving has compressed into continuous tone in some places.
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Left: An interior view of Haddon Hall looking into the long gallery. The painting is somewhat faded and was picking up reflections, so the contrast has been increased here.
Right: This 2003 photograph shows how the old heavy wooden door and semi-circular steps have all gone and been replaced by a more practical - if much less romantic - entrance to the gallery.
Below, a view of the long gallery as it is in 2003. To visit Haddon Hall, check their web site at www.haddonhall.co.uk.
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Unless otherwise stated, photographs © Harry Drummond 2003.
Known paintings of Haddon Hall
Frances:
Though we don't have an example,
we know that Frances painted at Haddon.
Louise:
Banqueting Hall, Haddon Hall
Figures by the Fireplace in Haddon Hall, Derbyshire
Lady Looking out of the Window of Haddon Hall, Derbyshire
Long Gallery, Haddon Hall
The Terrace at Haddon Hall
Margaret:
Barons Chapel, Haddon Hall
Chapel, Haddon Hall
Haddon Hall Chapel
Walled garden, Haddon Hall
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Samuel:
The Barons Chapel, Haddon Hall
Haddon Hall Courtyard [attributed]
Haddon Hall, Derbyshire
Haddon Hall interior (chapel)
Haddon Hall North entrance
Haddon Hall with Figures
Interior of the Chapel, Haddon Hall
The Terrace, Haddon Hall
The Terrace steps, Haddon Hall (sepia)
Also by Samuel:
The History and Antiquities of Haddon Hall
Illustrated by 32 highly finished drawings; with an account of the Hall in its present state. Published by Robert Moseley, Derby, 1836.
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Harry Drummond, December 2010. |
Please take note: we claim no art expertise, and in no way do we offer provenance for any paintings. What you see here was compiled out of interest in Louise Rayner's paintings, but is based on sometimes very fragmentary evidence. As such, it is inevitable that there will be errors, though we naturally hope to reduce these over time.
We would gratefully receive any information or corrections that will help us to fill the gaps and resolve unproved links - for example confirmation of dates of birth, death, etc., and details of other addresses the family lived at (and roughly when). Images of any of the family's paintings would also be very welcome. Thank you!
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