The Harold Samuel Collection

The Appeal will set up a fund for the conservation and maintenance of the internationally acclaimed Harold Samuel Collection, the finest private collection of 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings assembled in the UK in the 20th century. Lord Samuel of Wych Cross, property entrepreneur and philanthropist, bequeathed his extraordinary collection to the City of  London in his will in 1987, specifically to be hung together in the splendid interior of Mansion House, the residence of the Lord Mayor of London. During the year of the Appeal, the paintings will be made accessible to a wider audience through talks, tours and open days. A new Guide to the Harold Samuel Collection has been published with beautiful reproductions of every painting accompanied by lively, insightful discussion by Michael Hall and an introductory essay about Harold Samuel and the creation of the collection by Clare Gifford. This book marks the 25th anniversary of the bequest. Proceeds from book sales and tours of the collection will all go towards the new fund, which will ensure that this remarkable collection of  paintings will continue to inspire in the 21st century and beyond.

Sponsor a painting!

We are pleased to offer you or your company the opportunity to sponsor a favourite painting in the Harold Samuel collection and in doing so enable urgent conservation work on the paintings and their frames. The sponsor for each painting will have their name listed on a plaque at the foot of the red staircase in Mansion House where the Collection starts. In addition there will be the opportunity to see the conservators in action when the work on the painting is being carried out.

Paintings in Need

• Arent Arentsz, called ‘Cabel’(Amsterdam 1585/6-1631 Amsterdam) Winter landscape with duck hunter  Oil on panel, 32 by 58cm, signed. Hall number 2                                    Conservation work on painting – £2000

• David Teniers the Younger (Antwerp 1610-1690 Brussels) The Five Senses Oil on copper, 21.8 by 16.5cm. Hall numbers 11 to 15                                                                                          Restoration of frame – £4500

• Jan Steen (Leiden 1625/6-1679 Leiden) The sleeping couple Oil on copper, 18.7 by 24.5cm, signed. Hall number 17.                                                                                                            Conservation work on painting – £2500

• Pieter Cornelius van Slingelandt (Leiden 1640-1691 Leiden) A woman making lace, with two children Oil on panel, 47.5 by 39.4cm. Hall number 22.                                       Restoration of frame and conservation work on painting – £2000

• Aert van der Neer (Amsterdam 1603/4-1677 Amsterdam) Winter landscape with figures on a frozen canal Oil on canvas, 61.5 by 74.5cm, signed. Hall number 54. Conservation work on painting – £3000

• Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael (Haarlem? 1628/9-1682 Haarlem) Panoramic view of Haarlem Oil on canvas, 43.2 by 41.9cm, signed. Hall number 66.                                              Restoration of frame – £1500

• Meindert Hobbema (Amsterdam 1638-1709 Amsterdam) Wooded landscape with the ruins of a house Oil on panel, 60 by 84.5cm, signed. Hall number 68.                         Restoration of frame – £2000

• Gerrit Berkheyde ((Haarlem 1638-1698 Haarlem) The Castle of Heemstede Oil on panel, 42.8 by 54.7cm, signed and dated 166(2 or 9). Hall number 80.                                    Conservation work on painting – £150

For information on the tours and how to buy the book please click here.