Who painted Print Collection?

Print Collection was painted by Peter Bax in 1927.

Where can I see Print Collection?

Print Collection is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

Print Collection

Peter Bax , 1927

Print Collection is a print by Peter Bax. It dates from 1927 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Peter Bax made this print around 1927. It shows London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane at night, with its big columns glowing in the dark.

Bax knew the theater inside out—he worked there as a stage manager and designer before moving to radio in 1934. That background probably shaped how he framed the scene.

Check out Bax’s later work at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Overview

This print, created around 1927 by Peter Bax, depicts a nighttime view of London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows the theatre's portico and Stage Door, featuring sturdy ionic pillars designed by Benjamin Wyatt, from across Russell Street in Covent Garden. The building was the fourth iteration on the site, following previous structures destroyed by fire or demolition.

Technique & Style

Bax's experience as a stage manager and designer at the theatre likely influenced his composition. The print captures the theatre's nighttime appearance, with its columns illuminated in the dark.

History & Provenance

Bax worked at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane before joining the BBC in 1934, where he was part of the team preparing for high-definition broadcasting. He later became Artistic Director at Alexandra Palace, home of BBC television after 1936.