Artwork
The Tribunal, Glastonbury
The Tribunal, Glastonbury is a watercolor work on paper by William Palmer Robins. It dates from 23 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Tribunal, Glastonbury is a watercolour depicting a two-story medieval stone building with a tiled roof, featuring distinctive architectural details and everyday activity.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is the Tribunal building in Glastonbury, captured with attention to its stone construction, mullioned windows, carved entrance decorations, and a sturdy studded door. Two figures conversing outside and a shop sign ('STORES') and marked walkway ('J. BROWN') suggest a blend of historical architecture and mundane life.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the work exhibits a restrained palette and loose, expressive brushstrokes, evident in the rendering of textures (stone, tile) and the subtle suggestion of human presence. The paper's worn state, with stains and scribbled notes, underscores the piece's documentary, sketch-like nature.
History & Provenance
Created between 1940 and 1943, this watercolour is part of the 'Recording Britain' collection, a wartime project funded by the Pilgrim Trust and directed by Sir Kenneth Clark, aiming to document threatened British heritage. Signed by W. P. Robins, it is one of over 1,500 works by 97 artists in the collection.
Context
Conceived during World War II, the piece reflects concerns over the erosion of national identity due to wartime destruction, urbanization, and rural decline, aligning with the project's mission to preserve visual records of England's architectural and rural landscapes.
Legacy
As part of 'Recording Britain', The Tribunal, Glastonbury contributes to a comprehensive archival project, now housed in various institutions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, where similar works can be viewed.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Palmer Robins painted quiet English streets and buildings in watercolor during the 1940s.
High Street and Rutland Arms, Newmarket
Tudor Houses, Church Street, Whitby
Church Street, (west side) Windsor
Georgian House, Cecily Hill, Cirencester
King's Mill Lane, Stamford, Rutlandshire
The Butter Cross and Public Buildings, Witney
Georgian Houses, Market Hill, Buckingham
Preparing for the Coronation, West Malling, May, 1937.