West Lodge Park boasts an exquisite collection of late seventeenth-century portraits, carefully curated by T. Edward Beale CBE. The collection primarily centres on two themes: the works of the artist Mary Beale and the Court of King Charles II, of which Henry Coventry, the owner of West Lodge Park, was a distinguished member. While some portraits acquired by Edward Beale at Sotheby’s and Christie’s around 30 years ago have been reattributed to other artists, the collection still includes several confirmed works by Mary Beale, including a rare signed piece.
Discover one of the largest collections of Mary Beale’s works
West Lodge Park is proud to house one of the largest collections of Mary Beale’s paintings. Mary Beale has significant historical ties to the estate. She painted Sir Henry Coventry, the Secretary of State to Charles II and the former owner of West Lodge Park. The original portrait hangs in the state dining room at Longleat, while a copy is displayed in the hall at West Lodge Park. Additionally, the Beale family, who have owned the estate since 1945, are believed to be descendants of Charles Beale, with roots tracing back to William Beale’s marriage in Hertford in 1586, the same area as the ancestors of the Beales of West Lodge Park.
Experience art at the Mary Beale Restaurant
The Mary Beale Restaurant at West Lodge Park features a stunning array of her portraits from various collections. Visitors can admire original Mary Beale portraits from the Edward Beale collection of Old Masters, the Richard Jeffree bequest to the Art Fund and St Edmundsbury Borough Council Heritage Service, and reproductions from the National Portrait Gallery and other prominent London galleries. Enjoy a unique dining experience surrounded by the timeless beauty of Mary Beale’s artistry.
Mary Beale’s collection at West Lodge Park Hotel not only celebrates her artistic prowess but also connects the Beale family to their historic lineage. Her ability to maintain a successful studio and produce numerous significant works, despite the challenges of her era, cements her legacy as a pioneering female artist in English history. The collection stands as a testament to her enduring influence and the rich artistic heritage preserved at West Lodge Park.
The fourth Beale in the story, came from humble beginnings in Hertfordshire (his father was a bricklayer) to seek his fortune in London. After his apprenticeship to his uncle, William saved up £50 and opened his own shop on Highgate Hill in 1861. The shop had a covered yard at the rear into which a horse and cart could be brought, and once the day’s baking was over William used the residual heat from the ovens to cook dinners and send them out (the first involvement of the family in catering). A man of enormous energy and drive, he developed the business so fast that he was able in 1889 to open Beale’s Restaurant, a large five storey building in Holloway containing a restaurant, grill room, banqueting suites, baker and departments selling a complete range of groceries and provisions, rather like a suburban Fortnum and Mason. William died in 1904, a pillar of local society and an alderman of Islington Council.
Half-length, in brown velvet coat and painted oval.
Signed Enoch Seeman and dated 1742.
Provenance: Christie’s 1972.
The 6th Earl of Coventry was born in 1722 and died in 1809.
He became Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire and Recorder of Coventry.
Enoch Seeman lived from 1694 to 1744. Examples of his work are to be
found in the National Portrait Gallery, and his full-length portrait of King
George I hangs in the Middle Temple
