Study for a mural Watercolour by Edward Bawden 1951
A recent addition to the collection of the Fry Gallery is this wonderful preparatory sketch by Edward Bawden for a mural entitled ‘Country Life’ in the Lion and Unicorn Pavilion at the 1951 Festival of Britain. In it Bawden looks both forward and back with depictions of familiar Essex buildings and images of agricultural practice past and present. The finished mural occupied the entire wall at one end of the barn-like pavilion, and in its finished state was applied to a large folded screen. When the exhibition ended, the screen was stored in a warehouse and finally destroyed. This early study for the work is thought to have been given by Bawden to his former pupil John Norris Wood (also one of the ‘Fry artists’) and has recently come to light, and been given to the gallery in an act of great generosity.
Come and see this work, as well as Bawden’s model for the finished screen, and one of the plaster doves which adorned the ceiling of the Pavilion, at the Bardfield Murals exhibition at the Fry Art Gallery. Hurry, as the exhibition closes on Sunday 13th July.
Bardfield Murals: Ravilious, Bawden, Rowntree and others is in the Gibson Room at the Fry Art Gallery until Sunday 13th July.
Presented by an anonymous donor.