There seems to be no reason to doubt that this is the same painting, although the reference to “the New Walk” is puzzling, as it bears little resemblance to the riverside walk in York, downstream of Skeldergate Bridge and known as “New Walk”.
Before its cleaning some years ago, the whole picture was so dark that the detailed subject matter was obscured. In 2007, Mark Roberts, an accredited Conservator-Restorer of Welbeck, Worksop, professionally cleaned and reframed the picture.
Mark Roberts was of the opinion that the painting was of the school of de Momper and thought it could date from 1630.
GAW Sept 2024
The Wilford Archive
The Dutch Painting
The painting of a tree-lined avenue leading to a fortified house hanging in the Small Hall has been there for as long as any recent Members can remember. It is commonly referred to within the Company as the ‘Dutch Painting’.
• in the 1905 Booklet “The Guilds of York, The Inception, Growth, Purpose and Influence of the Two Surviving Guilds, Merchant Adventurers and Merchant Taylors” by Mr Wm Camidge, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and published in 1905. On page 33, referring to the Small Hall, it reads:
“The room contains many other pictures, including a large oil painting of the New Walk, presented by the late Mr Thomas Walker.”
• Dobson & Smith’s Book also refers on page 150 to the picture of the “New Walk below Ouse Bridge”, presented by Thomas Walker “for the adornment of the Hall” in 1884.