Who painted The Old Parsonage, New Radnor?

The Old Parsonage, New Radnor was painted by Vincent Henry Lines in 1943.

Where can I see The Old Parsonage, New Radnor?

The Old Parsonage, New Radnor is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is The Old Parsonage, New Radnor?

The Old Parsonage, New Radnor is associated with Social Realism.

Artwork

The Old Parsonage, New Radnor

Vincent Henry Lines , 1943

The Old Parsonage, New Radnor is a watercolor work on paper by the Social Realist artist Vincent Henry Lines. It dates from 1943 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Vincent Henry Lines painted this watercolour in 1943, showing a half‑timbered parsonage at New Radnor set back from a gently curving lane. Cattle graze in the field beside the road, while low hills rise in the background under a light, cloud‑dotted sky.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a tranquil rural scene: the weathered stone and timber of the parsonage, a modest porch, and a few figures strolling in the distance. The inclusion of grazing livestock and the surrounding landscape underscores a vision of enduring countryside life.

Technique & Style

Lines employed loose, sketch‑like brushwork, allowing washes of muted colour to suggest form rather than detail. The watercolour’s soft edges and quick strokes convey immediacy, giving the viewer the impression of a fleeting observation of the village.

History & Provenance

Created as part of the Recording Britain project, the work was commissioned during World War II to document threatened historic environments. The scheme, funded by the Pilgrim Trust and administered by Sir Kenneth Clark, enlisted artists to record traditional architecture and rural settings across England and Wales.

Context

The Recording Britain initiative aimed to preserve a visual record of the nation’s built heritage at a time when wartime bombing and post‑war modernization were seen as potential erasures of the past. This watercolour exemplifies the project’s focus on modest, vernacular structures and their surrounding landscapes.