Artist David Hampton's Home is a Treasure Trove of 20th-Century Art

Artist David Hampton, nearing his 100th year, has created a remarkable home in Bath, England, overflowing with a lifetime of collected art and creative output. The townhouse, filled with canvases, sculptures, and objets d’art, gives the impression of a lifelong residency, despite Hampton only settling there later in life after retiring from London and the Cote d’Azur.

A Serendipitous Discovery

Hampton and his late wife, Joan, unexpectedly found the house after a previous property purchase fell through. “We couldn’t believe we were able to live in such a beautiful place,” Hampton remarked.

An Artistic Cornucopia

Stepping inside is like entering a curated collection reminiscent of Kettle’s Yard, but with the grandeur of Delacroix’s The Death of Sardanapalus. Cubist landscapes and still lifes adorn the walls, though Hampton prioritizes color over form in his own work. He cites Henri Matisse as his primary artistic inspiration, preferring Matisse’s serene style to that of Pablo Picasso, whom he resembles in dress.

A Haven of Creative Energy

Despite the abundance of visual complexity and formal experimentation evident throughout the house, Hampton considers it a haven where he continues to work. His studio operates under a system of “organised chaos,” allowing him to easily locate everything he needs. The home is filled with reminders of a full century of life, from palm trees planted 35 years ago that now feature in his paintings, to a £20 mandolin purchased from a Bath antique shop, which evokes the works of Corot. A chaise longue, brought from London, holds sentimental value, having been used by his wife and daughter Sophie when she was a baby.

Born in 1926, Hampton comes from an artistic lineage; his grandfather was Victorian sculptor Herbert Hampton, and his father, William Hampton, was a painter and restorer, though the family’s lifestyle was modest.