Artwork
Sussex Terrace, Regent's Park
Sussex Terrace, Regent's Park is a watercolor work on paper by the Arts and Crafts movement artist Enid Crystal Dorothy Marx. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Enid Marx's watercolour, Sussex Terrace, Regent's Park, is a topographical study created for the Recording Britain project, a wartime initiative documenting the British landscape between 1940 and 1943.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a neoclassical building in Regent's Park, characterized by tall columns, a flat roof with statues, and a distinctive frontage of three doors with small upper windows. The surrounding landscape features rough bushes and a low fence, capturing a specific moment in the site's appearance.
Technique & Style
Marx employed quick, loose watercolour strokes to convey light and shadow, resulting in a piece that resembles a rapid sketch rather than a polished finish.
History & Provenance
Commissioned by the Ministry of Labour and National Service with Pilgrim Trust funding, the piece was overseen by Sir Kenneth Clark as part of a broader collection by artists like John Piper and Rowland Hilder, aiming to preserve images of Britain's national identity during wartime uncertainty.
Context
Part of a collective effort to document England's towns, rural areas, and historic sites, Marx's work reflects concerns over potential bomb damage, invasion, and rapid landscape changes during World War II.
Legacy
Now part of a significant collection, Sussex Terrace, Regent's Park, can be contextualized alongside similar works at institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum, highlighting its role in the Recording Britain project's archival endeavor.
Artist & collection
Artist
Enid Marx painted quiet, precise watercolors of London’s terraced rows around Regent’s Park.
