Provenance:

Fletcher Trust Collection

In 1950 Evelyn Page travelled by ship to England with her husband Frederick, who was on sabbatical from the music department of Victoria University. While in London Page spent some time looking at the oil sketches of Constable which are held in the Victoria and Albert Museum. She saw an exhibition of works by Matthew Smith and introduced herself to him; she and her husband visited Ivon Hitchens and bought a painting from him. At this time she also painted Ralph Vaughan Williams, while her husband played the piano music of Douglas Lilburn, a former student of the great English composer. View of St Paul's, London is one of a number of oils which convey the bustle, movement and colour of the city of London which so attracted the artist. This work is an authentic record of blustery, grey English winter weather. Page revelled in the 'clear, strong colours waiting to be put on canvas' when they returned to Wellington. There is subliminal reference to the well known photograph taken during the blitz of the smoke surrounding St Paul's.