Artwork
The Pond at William Morris's Works at Merton
The Pond at William Morris's Works at Merton is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Lexden Lewis Pocock. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Lexden Lewis Pocock’s 1884 watercolour, *The Pond at William Morris’s Works at Merton*, captures a tranquil scene of a small boat on a pond where a woman scatters food for ducks. Behind her, a line of modest timber houses with red tiled roofs follows a tree‑shaded lane, while the water mirrors the surrounding foliage and sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents an ordinary moment of leisure, emphasizing the quiet interaction between human and nature. By focusing on a single figure engaged in a simple activity, the work reflects a 19th‑century interest in everyday life and the gentle rhythms of rural or suburban environments.
Technique & Style
Executed in a loose, fluid watercolour wash, the painting employs softened edges and rapid brushwork that convey fleeting light and movement. The blurred delineation of forms suggests a sketch‑like approach, prioritising atmospheric impression over detailed realism.
History & Provenance
Signed and dated by Pocock in 1884, the piece is associated with the artistic community surrounding William Morris’s Merton works, an area known for its collaborative crafts and design projects. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s own studio records, linking it to the broader network of late‑Victorian watercolourists.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lexden Lewis Pocock was a British watercolor artist active in the late 1800s. Two of his works here are *The Botanist* from 1912 and *The Pond at William Morris's Works at Merton*, made around the 1880s. Both show…
