Artwork
Thomas Worley, Bailiff at Ashurst, at the age of 83
Thomas Worley, Bailiff at Ashurst, at the age of 83 is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Thomas Allom. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 1842 watercolour portrait by Thomas Allom depicts Thomas Worley, Bailiff at Ashurst, at the age of 83, as part of the *Sketches of Ashurst in Surrey* series, commemorating the estate of William Strahan Esq.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Thomas Worley, is portrayed with dignified realism, his advanced age emphasized through deep facial lines and a contemplative, sideways gaze, conveying a sense of authenticity and everyday life.
Technique & Style
Allom employed soft, loose watercolour brushstrokes to capture the textures of Worley's wrinkles and clothing, achieving a spontaneous, honest effect reminiscent of a candid snapshot.
History & Provenance
Created in 1842 as one of fourteen works in *Sketches of Ashurst in Surrey*, the piece is associated with Ashurst, a possibly Allom-designed, red-brick Italianate villa in Surrey, the seat of William Strahan Esq.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Allom (13 March 1804 – 21 October 1872) was an English architect, artist, and topographical illustrator.
