Allotments

Allotments, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, about 1948 oil on canvas by Roger de Grey (1918–1995).

Impressionistic composition with two figures in the foreground; the first, an elderly man, stands in centre. The second, a woman, is standing to his right. The man pauses beside a wooden fence dividing an area of tarmac from the allotments at the far side of which stands a row of poplar trees obscuring the landscape beyond. Pronounced horizontal and vertical planes suggest sub-divisions within the composition. 

Roger de Grey painted this picture when he was a lecturer in painting at King’s College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne between 1947 and 1954. During his time in Newcastle he painted his surroundings including the allotments. Similar subjects were painted by Camden Town artist Spencer Gore, de Grey’s Uncle. Edward Le Bas purchased this painting for the collection. Roger de Grey succeeded Carel Weight as the fourth honorary Advisor to our Purchase Scheme from 1963 to 1975. He purchased 62 works for the collection.