Bespoke tailor and shirt-maker Dege & Skinner, still in the ownership of the original Skinner family, has been actively supporting Art in Mayfair since its inception seven years ago. Previous artists displayed by Dege & Skinner include Richard Rochester (www.richardrochester.co.uk) and Ray Richardson, who has been described as the ‘Martin Scorsese of painting’ by Lindsay Macrae for GQ magazine (www.rayrichardson.co.uk).
For Art in Mayfair 2024, on display in the shop window at Number 10, Savile Row will be the work of W.G.Skinner, grandfather to the current Dege & Skinner Chairman, Michael Skinner. The work has been in the Skinner family since it was created at the start of the last century.
W.G.Skinner’s work, titled ‘Tim’, was painted in 1903 and depicts a three-year-old child, who is in fact the grandfather of the current Managing Director of Dege & Skinner, who is also called William.G.Skinner.
At the request of MD William Skinner, RA Archivist Mark Pomeroy researched the catalogue for the Royal Academy’s 1911 exhibition and was able to confirm that ‘Tim’ was indeed hung in the “Watercolour Room” of the Royal Academy, now called the Large Weston Room. He also confirmed that the painting was not for sale at the time.
He went on to confirm that in all, 11,444 works were submitted for exhibition and of these, only 1,746 works by non-Royal Academics (RAs) were hung. Decided proof that the selection committee looked positively on the painting by W.G.Skinner. RAs are practising artists who help steer the Academy’s vision, supporting its activities and helping to plan for the future.
Non-member’s varnishing day was set for 24 April 1911, when artist W.G.Skinner would have had the opportunity to hobnob with the Academicians and other artists on that day. In total 176,257 people came to see the show during its twelve-week run.
The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art hosts a website dedicated to the summer exhibition, holding an essay for every single year: https://chronicle250.com/1911#catalogue
‘Tim’ is listed as painting number 824, on Page 29 of said 1911 Royal Academy catalogue. Measurements are 62cms high, 57cms wide, in its frame.
DEGE & SKINNER: 10 Savile Row, London W1S 3PF