An artistic mystery: could this car be a Métallurgique?

Letter to the editor

I recently purchased an oil painting (45 by 32cm) by George Lane (1860 - 1942) which shows a side view of a luxury tourer with a very distinctive 'vee' radiator. I initially assumed the car to be a Siddeley-Deasy or derivative but searching the internet suggests the car is more likely to be a Métallurgique.

I would be grateful for readers opinions.

George Wright and his brother Gilbert Scott Wright are famous for their horse portraits and hunting scenes. Miniatures of their work was also used on box tops and glasses. It would seem that George Wright did a contemporary series of car images, normally in association with horses for some publication which I have not been able to determine. I have a record of 15 such automobile portraits. The interesting feature is that the horse people and motorists are in harmony and this image is the first I have seen of the horse being disturbed. We know in the past that there was a lot of antagonism between riders and automobilists. For further examples of George Wright's automobile work see my website Motoring Art Information. It can be seen that he accurately depicts early cars showing a specific model, hence I am confident that this is a manufactured automobile.

I would welcome identification of the automobile and also the publication where this series appeared.

Tony Clark

Published:

Thursday February 8th, 2024

Ivo Braeken

10 November 2024, 09:56

The painting sold very well at Bonhams's Golden Age of Motoring auction for almost £3,000. Congratulations to the buyer.

Michael Schlenger

09 February 2024, 09:32

I agree with David Grimstead. Attached is a photo from my collection showing such a Métallurgique tourer with Van den Plas coachwork in Germany. These cars were also made under license by Bergmann in Berlin.

Ivo Braeken

08 February 2024, 20:19

Is it in colour? I would like a copy if possible.

Tony Clark

11 February 2024, 11:11

Reply to Ivo Braeken:
The painting is just grisaille (grey and white). Contact me via my website given on my website and I will be happy to send you a copy of the painting.

I am happy for the Editor to forward my email to Ivo.

David Grimstead

10 January 2024, 20:35

This is a fairly accurate depiction of a 26-h.p. Métallurgique Phaeton de luxe, also known as a Racing Tourer. This Van den Plas coachwork was available from at least 1909 until 1912. Here is a photo illustration.

The Métallurgique importer, coincidentally, was Warwick Wright Ltd. and for their 1911 Christmas Cards the London Métallurgique Company carried (commissioned?) another painting signed by George Wright, “The First Meet of the Season”. It depicts the Métallurgique Enclosed Van den Plas Limousine shown at London’s November 1911 Motor Show, on a woodland track surrounded by a full hunt.

Many George Wright animal, sporting, hunting and car paintings were reproduced in the Illustrated London News, including a car picture called “Off on a Round of Calls” which may not be on your site.

An artistic mystery: could this car be a Métallurgique?

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