Artwork
The Camel House, Zoological Gardens
The Camel House, Zoological Gardens is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Swan. It dates from 1941 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Camel House, Zoological Gardens is a 1941 watercolour by Swan, created as part of the Recording Britain project, an initiative to document Britain's landscape and built environment during World War II.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a simple wooden camel shelter with a clock tower at the Zoological Gardens, capturing a tranquil scene amidst wartime.
Technique & Style
The work features light pencil lines and soft watercolour washes, conveying a loose and sketchy feel. The artist's use of faint backgrounds and subtle detail creates a sense of calm.
History & Provenance
Commissioned by the Committee for the Employment of Artists in Wartime, the work is part of a collection overseen by Sir Kenneth Clark, featuring over 1,500 works by 97 artists.
Context
The Recording Britain project aimed to preserve a sense of national identity by documenting various British scenes, including institutions like zoos, in the face of wartime destruction.
Artist & collection
Artist
In 1942, this watercolor artist captured Cirencester and the Cotswolds in soft, detailed scenes.
Anne of Cleves House, Ditchling
Vivary Park, Taunton
Dove Valley, Mappleton
The Maltings, Saffron Walden
Untitled
The Ruined Temple of Friendship in the Grounds at Stowe
The Southdown, Underhill Road; Wickhurst Barn near Poynings looking Westwards
Stonemason's Yard, Bakewell
Bow Brickhill, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire
A group of houses, a minaret and cypress trees
High Street and Rutland Arms, Newmarket
The Butter Cross and Public Buildings, Witney