Many of her paintings were from Chester which is fifteen miles south of Liverpool.
Interesting because Lucas (an internet friend) sent me an image, artist unknown and we attempted to play Sherlock Holmes.
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| Image, unknown artist |
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| Same image as above some features highlighted |
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| Louis Rayner image |
For example, one common tax scheme was to base property taxes on the Width + Depth of the ground floor times some multiplier. The assumption was that addition was within the reach of even the most simple-minded nephew and that upper stories would be the same size or smaller than the ground floor. See the features circled in red on the highlighted image.
In very short order, the ground-floor interior shrank to reduce the tax bill. Upper stories, the "private" part of the building was supported on posts and a substantial portion of the ground-floor was given over to expansive "porchs".
Some cities taxed the windows which resulted in extra windows being bricked closed. see the feature circled in black in the highlighted image. The fact that the LOWER windows were bricked up suggests that crime was an issue with, in turn, suggests that there is either a very large transient population (port city) or is very, very large.
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| If the image was painted in England, it probably came from the "Wet" or the west side of the country. |
The final feature that might narrow down where the unknown city might be located are involves the slope of the streets.
I am tickled when I see people making rational decisions to avoid onerous taxes.
You can still see this (in Michigan). Most "townhouses" and new student housing are 2-1/2 stories high. The missing half-story is 48" or more below grade (even if they have to bulldoze fill up to the walls). The motivation is the avoidance of fire-suppression equipment that is mandated starting with buildings of three-or-more stories in height.
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Tax avoidance is world-wide. In some countries, the assessment that property taxes are based on are not raised until construction is finished. The property owner will have the contractor pour a few vertical beams for "the top floor" but then suspend construction, thus avoiding higher taxes. Images like the one shown above are common in Nepal.
More paintings by Louise Rayner
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| A common feature of Rayner's paintings was a recognizable, church steeple in the background. Signs on buildings come-and-go but iconic steeples are points of pride for communities and probably made it easier to sell paintings. |
And while the image painted by the unknown artist might not be Louise Rayner, it was painted in the same style and of the same environs.
Interesting stories architecture will tell. Environmental, taxation, society safety or lack of it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in West Germany in the 70's I noticed all buildings were stone or concrete with smallish windows (VERY different to the 2x4 American home with wide windows). Functional shutters everywhere.
Stores that had wide street level windows all had steel roll down shutters that signaled the close of business every evening.
I asked my German friends why and after a bit of side chatter in German (of which I was limited at the time) they pointed out the Turks across the street. The Moped Gangs were real.
Even so, in the 70's Germany it was mostly lawful. The Turks fled from Politizi as they would bust heads and send them to jail and deportation.
Not so much today. Now Germans are raped and beaten daily, and you can be arrested for Anti-Islamic internet postings if you reported it on social media.
Our "Future History"?
In Mexico, many of the roofs have partial columns with rebar sticking out of the top. This is to indicate that construction is still underway and that full taxes cannot be taken (yet). To live in them a Certificate of Occupancy, but some savings are realized. Sneaky !
ReplyDeleteMany of those structures have these rebar for many years ...
They do the same thing in Tunisia. A house might be lived in for decades with rebar sticking out the top.
DeleteMuch of Michigan is covered by building regulations that do not cover buildings less than 200 Sq. feet. A 2nd story is verboten, "attics" are OK. They also seem to have a tendency to sprout a lean -to ...
ReplyDeleteThere are examples,
A Little East of Paris
In Charleston, SC it was street frontage. Hence the birth of the "Single House" with its side facing the street and long front and porch with dog trot facing the walled garden.
ReplyDeleteGermany taxes on number of rooms. Closest counts as a room, therefore "shurnks" or schefferrobes. I have seen those ten foot wide and three foot deep, three meters wide by a meter deep.
ReplyDeleteThanks as always for keeping the tradition alive, ERJ.
ReplyDeleteThe standard nite the tax avoidance is 100% legal and only decried by the government, those who pay no taxes, and those whose wealth makes them indifferent to taxes (although they practice it as well).
Being originally from Derby I do appreciate the paintings. Still a few of the old buildings to be seen in Derby and the area. Derby would be to the East of the line you placed on the map, but it is not really a dry area.
ReplyDeleteMexican cartels are reportedly charging a new “tax” to people who have trees in their gardens. Los Ciclones and Los Metros, divisions of the Gulf Cartel, have imposed fees on families for each tree that shades a home - essentially charging people to protect themselves from the sun in Tamaulipas.2 days ago
ReplyDeleteThe cartels are ruthless when there is a buck to be had. If Mexico suddenly had their firearms returned to its citizens, they would hunt the cartel members down and kill them without a trial. No more drogas (drugs).
Delete