Artwork
The Old Mill, Wareham
The Old Mill, Wareham is a watercolor work on paper by Longley. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Old Mill, Wareham is a 1940 watercolour on paper by Longley, depicting a serene landscape with a mill house and bridge.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a tranquil scene of a house behind a stone wall, with a small arched bridge crossing a stream, surrounded by trees and soft colours, capturing a peaceful moment.
Technique & Style
Longley employed light washes of watercolour, allowing some areas to remain slightly blurred, evoking the effect of natural light and creating a sense of simplicity and coziness.
History & Provenance
This work was created as part of the Recording Britain project, a wartime initiative documenting the British landscape between 1940 and 1943, led by Sir Kenneth Clark and funded by the Pilgrim Trust.
Context
The Recording Britain project aimed to record English scenes amid concerns over bomb damage, invasion, and broader environmental changes, resulting in over 1,500 works by 97 artists.
Artist & collection
Artist
A watercolour artist active around 1940, Longley painted quiet English landmarks in soft washes.
Bentworth, Near Alton
A cottage with a red-tiled roof, by a wood
Cottages
Old Cottage, Ibthorpe
Cottages at Norton, No.1
Glebe Farm, Fingest
Reflections in a Wooded Pool
Mill Mead, Guildford
A bridge over a stream, with a cottage behind
"Wolverley Court Bridge," over the Stafford and Worcester Canal, Wolverley
Pigeon House and Post Office, Mansel Lacy