FRENCH ARTIST'S*
WORK PURCHASED
Canterbury's Royal Museum 8 Art Gallery has
won grant—aid from a Government fund to
acquire a fine portrait of local interest by one of
the leading painters of the l8th century.
It is ofSir Thomas Hales of the Bekesbourne
branch of a well-known Kent family - which is
remembered also in Canterbury at Hales Place
where a great house stood until earlier this
century.
Sir Thomas lived at Bekesbourne in the family
house at Howletts, now demolished. and died
there in I762. He was born in I694 and
succeeded his father — Member of Parliament
for Canterbury - as 3rd baronet in 1748.
The oil painting was discovered by the City's
Curator, Mr Ken Reedie, and purchased from a
London gallery with a grant he obtained from
the National Purchase Fund administered by
the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The artist is lean Baptiste Van Loo. a
Frenchman of Flemish descent, who came to
London for the years 1737-1742 when he
worked with great success. His patron. the
Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, introduced
him to the Prince and Princess of Wales from
whom he received commissions to paint their
portraits and those of other members of the
household.