The painting tacitly celebrates the optimism of the middle classes and their conviction that the development of communications could only go on getting better and better.
The General Post Office, One Minute to Six by George Elgar Hicks, 1860
© Museum of London
Details
- Medium:
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions:
- 89 x 135 cm
- Art Fund grant:
- £60,000 ( Total: £285,000)
- Acquired in:
- 1991
- Vendor:
- Richard Green
Six o'clock was the closing time for the departure of newspapers by the night's mail.
Provenance
Commissioned by Wallis, but exchanged to Votkins; H.G.McCrea; M.Bernard Ltd by 1948; E.Waugh; Sotheby's, 1971; British Rail Pension Fund; Sotheby's 1990.
Venue details
Museum of London
150 London Wall, LONDON
London
EC2Y 5HN
020 7001 9844
www.museumoflondon.org.uk
Entry details
50% off with National Art PassDaily, 10am – 6pm Closed 24-26 Dec