Darsie Japp and Family

Henry Lamb 1883 - 1960

Summary

A group portrait of Darsie Japp and his family, as a slim man in a green three piece suit standing by a small table around which sit his wife and two daughters, drinking afternoon tea. He and his wife both hold teacups in their hands, the young girl on the right sits with her arms folded, whilst the girl on the left leans forward in her chair to play with the family dog sitting with its paws in her lap. On the table are teacups and plates of cake and sliced bread. A dresser filled with crockery is in the background to right, and a pale yellow drape against a panelled wall to the left. Darsie Napier Japp (1883-1973) was a painter and soldier. He was born in Liverpool and later attended St. John's College, Oxford University. Following graduation he worked for his father's shipping company in London between 1904 and 1907. During this time he studied at the Lambeth School of Art night school under Philip Connard. From 1908-1909 he studied at the Slade School of Art where he was a friend of fellow student Stanley Spencer. Japp was later a member of the New English Art Club from 1919. He joined the army at the start of the First World War and later became a Major in the Royal Field Artillery in Macedonia. He gave up painting professionally after the war to farm and breed race horses in Berkshire. He left England in 1926 to live in France and Spain until 1953.