Artwork

The Priory Farm and 13th century Chapel, Southam de la Bere, Nr. Cheltenham

Archibald Standish Hartrick , 1940

The Priory Farm and 13th century Chapel, Southam de la Bere, Nr. Cheltenham is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Archibald Standish Hartrick. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Priory Farm and 13th century Chapel, Southam de la Bere, Nr.

About this work

Overview

The Priory Farm and 13th century Chapel, Southam de la Bere, Nr. Cheltenham is a 1940 watercolour by Archibald Standish Hartrick, created as part of the Recording Britain project.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a serene rural scene, featuring a simple figure near a stone chapel with a thatched roof, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and fields. The work captures the architectural and agricultural character of the area, documenting a moment in the English countryside.

Technique & Style

The watercolour is executed in a soft, sketchy style, with the artist allowing the paper to show through in places, creating a light and delicate effect. The worn stones and rustic fence of the chapel are rendered in a way that emphasizes their age and simplicity.

History & Provenance

The artwork was commissioned as part of the Recording Britain project, a broader effort to document landscapes and buildings perceived as vulnerable to wartime changes or destruction during the Second World War.

Context

The painting is one of over 1,500 artworks created to preserve a record of Britain's evolving environment during a time of significant change.