SKU: 81219219648

"In Pursuit Of Rare Meats: The Rex Whistler Mural- Tate Britain Restaurant" 2003

Sale price$202.50 Regular price$225.00
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $56.25 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 31 - Sep 5

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

"In Pursuit Of Rare Meats: The Rex Whistler Mural- Tate Britain Restaurant" 200310 fold mural laid in Tate Publishing 2003 First Edition 7 1 2" x 4 1 4" 7 1 2"H x 39"W (open) Fine The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats is a mural by the English painter Rex Whistler (19051944), commissioned in 1926 and completed in 1927 at the Tate Gallery (now Tate Britain) in London. The mural was commissioned by the gallery's inaugural director, Charles Aitken, for the re opening of its restaurant, where to this day it forms the entire

10-fold mural laid-in

Tate Publishing

2003

First Edition

7 1/2" x 4 1/4"

7 1/2"H x 39"W (open)

Fine

The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats is a mural by the English painter Rex Whistler (1905–1944), commissioned in 1926 and completed in 1927 at the Tate Gallery (now Tate Britain) in London. The mural was commissioned by the gallery's inaugural director, Charles Aitken, for the re-opening of its restaurant, where to this day it forms the entire interior surround of what is now the eponymously named eatery, "The Rex Whistler Restaurant".

The work has been at the centre of controversy in recent years over the artist's depiction, in one scene, of a black child chained to and running behind a horse and cart and, in another, of Chinese people deemed by some to read as stereotypical as the figures are "caricatured". The entire painting, and its background story, can also be read as a satire on imperialism ("Rare Meats" being a culinary term for lightly-cooked meat, while the painting goes to extremes to find food that is "rare" in the sense of being difficult to find).

History

A 1927 pamphlet for Rex Whistler Room at the Tate Gallery
The mural was commissioned in 1926 and completed in 1927. Aitken had hoped that the high profile of the mural's commission would induce large restaurateurs like J. Lyons and Co. to fund murals in their establishments. It was funded by Joseph Duveen, who had previously funded the mosaics created by Boris Anrep for the entrance to the Tate in 1921. Duveen had suggested the creation of a refreshment room at the Tate in 1925, and had offered £500 (equivalent to £28,728 in 2019) towards its decoration with a mural. Rex Whistler was recommended for the job by Henry Tonks, who was part of the committee that chose the artist for the mural. Whistler was chosen for the project in 1926 while he was still a student at the Slade School of Art. Another member of the committee, Philip Sassoon, had favoured the artist Glyn Jones, and proposed a competition for the mural's design among alumni of the British School at Rome.

Whistler was paid £5 a day (equivalent to £292 in 2019) over the 18 months it took to complete the work, and given a £100 bonus upon the work's completion (equivalent to £6,013 in 2019). His assistant, Nan West, was paid £3 per day. West's role was to mix colours and prepare Whistler's designs to be transferred to the large canvas. The mural was submerged during the flooding of the River Thames in January 1928 but was undamaged. The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats was included in the Tate's 1939 exhibition Mural Painting in Great Britain, 1919 to 1939, which ran from May to June 1939.

The mural was restored in 2013 as part of a £45 million refurbishment of Tate Britain.

Design
The action depicted in the mural takes place in the fictive land of "Epicurania" ruled over by the "Duke of Epicurania". The content of the mural was created in a collaboration between Whistler and the novelist Edith Olivier. The story articulated in the work depicts an account wherein an "expedition" of a group of seven people departs in search of exotic meats. They travel on all manner of transport‍—‌bicycles, carts and horses‍—‌from their point of departure the "Duchy of Epicurania", and venture through bizarre and enchanting lands while coming upon creatures such as unicorns, truffle dogs and two giant gluttons guarding the entrance to a cave. The tale finishes with the adventurers arriving back to an ebullient welcome, and the menu of the Epicuranians, which had previously consisted of dry biscuits, is forever changed." Several notable British buildings are depicted in the mural including the bridge at Wilton Park and an arch and pavilion in the grounds of Stowe House. Henry Tonks is portrayed in a bust that looks out from a grotto in the mural.

The mural depicts the "enslavement of a black child and the distress of his mother" and later shows the child "running behind a horse and cart which he is attached to by a chain around his neck". The depicted figures are a few inches high, and would have been conspicuous to only a few diners.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 81219219648

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.6 ★★★★★
Based on 11 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
G
Verified Purchase
G. Bazile
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
solid resource for those seeking extensive practice
Format: Paperback
This book offers a comprehensive set of practice questions for the Digital SAT, providing over 900 questions to help students prepare. While the questions are challenging and mimic the actual test format, some users have noted that they can be more difficult than the real SAT. The book is useful for identifying strengths and weaknesses, but its effectiveness may vary depending on individual learning needs. Overall, it's a solid resource for those seeking extensive practice, though it may not perfectly replicate the adaptive digital experience. Detailed explanations help clarify concepts, making it a valuable tool for SAT prep.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2025
N
Verified Purchase
Nancy Retallick, PhD
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Highly Recommended
Format: Paperback
If you have high schoolers preparing for the SAT, this book is a must-have. After understanding the importance of high SAT scores—especially when it comes to scholarships—I see the value in good preparation. Digital SAT Practice Tests provides plenty of practice questions that help students build confidence and improve their skills. The more they practice, the better they’ll perform. This book is a great resource for anyone serious about achieving a high score.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2025
H
Verified Purchase
H Klair
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Resourceful!!
Format: Paperback
The book includes multiple full-length SAT practice tests that are same format and difficulty level of the real exam. Book covers questions from all sections—Reading, Writing, and Math Each question is accompanied by a thorough explanation, which will help students learn from their mistakes and improve their test-taking strategies. This is a must have as a study tool to prep for an exam.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2025
L
Verified Purchase
L.B.
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
Great resource!
Format: Paperback, Format: Paperback
This book is a great resource to have when prepping for the SAT. The diagnostic test is a huge help to see where you are before you dive into studying. The five practice tests include in depth explanations of the answers – that is a big help with studying. This is a great way to study for the digital SAT. Highly recommended!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2025
R
Verified Purchase
R. Ploum
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent resource beyond Real Estate investing
Format: Paperback
This book is hands down one of the best resources on key financial terms I have read yet. The authors explain many of the most important concepts in easy-to-understand language, building one’s understanding chapter upon chapter. I have ordered a dozen copies to hand out to my team as a reference guide for our group discussions. Whether you’re a newcomer to the profession and need to build a foundational understanding of the subject matter or are a more seasoned professional but would like a first-class teaching aid to assist in the development of others, this book covers all bases.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023

recommand products