Issue 47 JUNE - Flipbook - Page 17
Rex Whistler murals
at Trent Park House
The Chroma Conservation team were delighted to be commissioned to work on the conservation
cleaning and retouching treatment of the Rex Whistler murals at Trent Park House. Painted between
1930-1933, in the Long Saloon (Library and Chinese Drawing Room) and the Blue Room in this
most interesting of houses in Cockfosters, North London.
At Trent Park Rex Whistler’s murals were inspired by
classical Roman decoration, a period very close to his
heart. The large panel above the fireplace in the Blue
room is a wonderful martial trophy painted in red and
silver on a blue painted background with Sir Philip
Sassoon’s initials on the shield. In the Library, two female
figures in Roman armour with plumed helmets recline
on either side of a large arched bookcase, whilst at the
opposite end of the enfilade he painted dolphins with
gilded spumes on the spandrels of an arched Venetian
window. Whistler discreetly introduced Sir Philip’s gold
monogram on various walls throughout the ground floor.
These designs were in perfect harmony with the calm,
elegant, very English décor that Sir Philip created, both
inside and outside the mansion.
Trent Park has a fascinating history and dates back to the
fourteenth century when it was a part of Enfield Chase,
one of Henry IV's hunting grounds.
