Victor Sheleg Art

The Guildhall, Worcester English School, mid 20th century indistinctly signed verso oil on canvas canvas: 20 x 24 inches provenance: private collection, UK condition: very good and sound condition The Worcester Guildhall was originally built as a meeting place for Worcester merchants around 1227. As with many other guildhalls, it became the centre for civic administration, a role it maintained after the merchant guild had disappeared. The present Worcester Guildhall is a superb Queen Anne building, begun in 1722 by Thomas White, a pupil of Sir Christopher Wren. White was badly paid for his efforts, and he died in poverty in 1738, bestowing the money he was owed on the Worcester Royal Infirmary. The city finally paid its debt in 1753. The exterior of the Guildhall is brick, dressed with stone. White himself is said to have carved the figure of Queen Anne over the entry, as well as those of Charles I and II, a reminder of the city's long history of royal support. The interior is superb, boasting exceptional period decoration. The Tourist Information Centre is now located in the Guildhall. HISTORY In 1227 Henry III granted the citizens of Worcester a royal charter granting them the right to establish a guild of merchants. The guild was responsible for controlling trade in the city, but their meeting place gradually became the main centre of administration for city government and acted as a courthouse. So, in effect, the Guildhall was the town hall, and though the city guilds have long since vanished, the Guildhall name lives on. The medieval guild merchants would not recognise the building that faces onto High Street now. Their guildhall was a large timber-framed building, occupying the same site, with a piazza for shops fronting the street, courts of justice at each end, and a prison to the north of the building. Part of the prison was a cell called 'the peephole', which gained a notorious reputation. There was a gaoler's house, and attached to it an alehouse from which the gaoler sold ale at extremely high prices to any prisoner who could afford the cost. In 1717 the city administration decided on a new Guildhall, and they knew just who to call; upon to build it. Thomas White was not an architect in the way we think of it today, but a stonemason. In 1705 he had carved a statue of Queen Anne to stand in front of the medieval Guildhall and was made a Freeman of the City. The total cost of the fashionable new red-brick building was £3727. The Corporation only put forward £800, and the rest had to be raised by public subscription. The centre section of the new Guildhall was finished by 1724 and has remained almost unchanged since then. The central facade is a wonderful example of early Georgian style, with three bays flanked by Corinthian pillars. Over the entrance is a huge carving incorporating the Hanoverian royal arms. White's earlier statue of Queen Anne was placed in a niche over the door, and on either side were statues of Charles I, depicted holding a church, and Charles II, with an orb and royal sceptre. On the rooftop are figures of Labour, Peace, Justice, Plenty, and Chastisement. North and south wings were added within a few years of the central block. The south wing was used as a judge's lodging when the assizes were taking place, but throughout the rest of the year it housed a coffee shop. The most striking external feature of the Guildhall is a set of iron gates...

FAMILY HOME Size: 50 x 68 cm (including frame) Oil on Canvas A wonderfully detailed modernist composition of an interior, painted in oil onto canvas and dated 1975. This charming n...

This is an unsigned but wildly expressionist American industrial landscape that dates to the 1930’s. It exudes drama and color and reall...

The Hareem Interior French Orientalist School, late 20th century (painted after an earlier style) oil on canvas, framed framed: 30 x 34 inches canvas: 20 x 24 inches provenance: priv...

NYC Subway Mid 20th Century Modern American Scene Social Realism Contemporary David Atkins (1910 – 2012) Subway Train Departure 24 x 30 inches Oil on can...

In this evocative oil painting, I sought to capture the serene essence of a snowy forest at dusk. The setting sun casts a warm glow, contrasting with the cool blues and whites of the...

Industrial Mid-20th Century WPA Modern Men Working American Scene Social Realism George Pearse Ennis (American, 1884-1936) "Forging a Gun Tube #1...

THE CLASSROOM Size: 53 x 68 cm (including frame) Oil on Canvas A fun and richly detailed composition in oil, painted onto canvas and dated 1977. This playful oil painting depicts ...

"Rosemary" with feather boa - Bay Area Figurative Movement Study Oil on Canvas A dark-haired woman with a feather boa sits propped on a stool surrounded by bright textures and patte...

"Untitled" is an original acrylic painting of a still life by Peter Dahlke. The artist used expressionist techniques and bright colors to create this artwork. 15" x 19 1/4" art His work sometimes makes use of symbolism which is frequently rather obtuse in its allusions to art history. The boxes he manufactures are constructed from reclaimed antique pipe organ...

Signed lower right, 'Justin Murray' (American, 1912-1987), titled, verso, 'The Doctor's Office' and painted circa 1945. Framed dimensions: 9¼ x 1½ x 21 inches. Born in Minneapolis, ...

In this work, I've captured the ephemeral beauty of nature's cycle. I chose oils to convey the rich vibrancy and delicate dance of seeds on the wind. The artistry here lies in the dy...