Artwork
The Old Bedford
The Old Bedford is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Walter Sickert. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Old Bedford is a pencil drawing by Walter Richard Sickert, created in 1898. It depicts the interior of the Old Bedford music hall in Camden Town.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing shows a dimly lit scene with two figures near a railing: an older bearded man holding a violin and a smaller figure facing away. Faint shapes of other people and a window are visible in the background.
Technique & Style
The drawing is characterized by rough, sketchy lines and handwritten notes in the corners, suggesting it was a study for a larger work rather than a finished piece.
History & Provenance
The drawing was made a year before the original Old Bedford music hall was destroyed by fire in 1899. The venue was later rebuilt as the New Bedford music hall.
Artist & collection
Artist
Walter Richard Sickert (31 May 1860 – 22 January 1942) was a German-born British painter and printmaker who was a member of the Camden Town Group of Post-Impressionist artists in early 20th-century London.
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