Rolls Royce Outside the Ritz

Roy Anthony Nockolds was a British self-taught aviation and motor racing artist. His mother, Flora Mary van der Heyden was the great granddaughter of the Dutch art master Jan van der Heyden, a likely source of his creative ability. He was known to also sign his works with the pseudonym Van der Heyden or Hodge, probably for commercial reasons. His first visit to the Brooklands motor racing circuit in 1924 lead to his fascination with the power and speed of racing cars. As a self-taught artist he was up against considerable competition from amongst others Bryan de Grineau (of “The Motor” magazine) and F. Gordon Crosby (of “The Autocar” magazine). But Nockolds still received many commissions for car makers such as Ford, Jaguar, Standard, Rover and Rolls-Royce. Nockolds nicely unites two luxury cornerstones of British well to do society in this painting . Rolls-Royce and The Ritz Hotel London both represent the best Britain has to offer when it comes to luxury. The Ritz opened its doors in 1906 and was and still is considered to be one of the most luxurious and prestigious hotels in the world. Rolls-Royce Limited, a British manufacturer of automobiles and aircraft engines, was also founded in 1906 by Henry Royce and Charles Rolls. Nockolds seems to be celebrating both institutions in his painting.