Artwork
Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital is a watercolor work on paper by Walker. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Foundling Hospital is a watercolour painting executed in 1940 by Walker as part of the Recording Britain project, which aimed to document British architecture and landscapes during World War II.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Foundling Hospital, capturing its architectural features, including a sloping roof and a covered walkway, set amidst bare trees and a subdued grey sky, conveying a sense of serene tranquility.
Technique & Style
Characterized by gentle brushstrokes and a muted colour palette of yellows, greys, and browns, the work embodies a soft, dreamy quality, inviting the viewer into its peaceful atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Commissioned under the Recording Britain project (1940-1943), funded by the Pilgrim Trust, this piece is one of over 1,500 artworks by 97 artists, intended to preserve images of potentially vulnerable sites.
Artist & collection
Artist
An English watercolorist active in the early 1940s, this artist painted the spires, bridges, and inns of small-town England in quick, transparent washes.
Elm Hall, Wanstead
Watergate Street Row, looking East, Chester
The Music Gallery, Tunbridge Wells
Χωρίς τίτλο
The Old Church (now a barn), Leonard Stanley
The Causeway, Horsham
Falling Leaves
Semur, France
Holy Trinity Church and the new Allotments, Clapham Common, London
Turville from the Churchyard
Study of Trees
Entrance to Foundling Hospital