Artwork
Snow in London
Snow in London is a watercolor work on paper by the Contemporary Abstract artist Percy Hague Jowett. It dates from 1955 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Percy Hague Jowett’s 1955 watercolour captures a brief glimpse of a London winter. The composition is framed by an open window, through which a snow‑covered street, skeletal trees and distant buildings are visible. Inside the frame, a modest potted plant rests on the sill, providing a quiet contrast between interior warmth and the chill beyond.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes the public and private realms, inviting contemplation of everyday life amid a cold, muted cityscape. The open panes suggest an invitation to observe the fleeting beauty of snowfall, while the solitary plant hints at resilience and the persistence of life within domestic spaces during the season.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, Jowett employs loose, rapid brushwork that borders on sketching, lending the scene a sense of immediacy. The snow is rendered with soft, translucent washes, contrasting with the more defined, darker strokes that outline the window frame and the plant’s pot, creating a subtle balance between delicacy and structure.
History & Provenance
Created in 1955, the painting reflects post‑war British artistic interest in everyday urban scenes. While its early ownership details are limited, the piece has been noted in collections focusing on mid‑century British watercolours, and it is frequently referenced alongside comparable works held by institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
Percy Hague Jowett painted city scenes in soft watercolours. His Snow in London from 1955 shows rooftops and chimneys dusted white, the Thames just visible below. It belongs to a quieter slice of mid-century art, where…
