Artwork
Middle Mill, Colchester
Middle Mill, Colchester is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Bayes. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Middle Mill, Colchester is a 1940 watercolour by Henry Bayes, capturing a serene riverside scene.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Colne River with swans and figures on a bridge, set against Colchester's skyline, including a church spire and factory chimney, evoking a sense of everyday life.
Technique & Style
Bayes used delicate watercolour tones and cross-hatching to convey the atmosphere of a sunny day, with simple shapes and light touches creating a sketchy, unpolished effect.
History & Provenance
The work was created as part of the 'Recording Britain' project, a wartime initiative to document Britain's landscape and national identity.
Context
The painting reflects a moment in time, capturing the tranquil scene amidst the backdrop of wartime Britain.
Artist & collection
Artist
Walter John Bayes was an English painter and illustrator who was a founder member of both the Camden Town Group and the London Group and also a renowned art teacher and critic.
Mill Street Lock, Kidderminster
A Mill at Braintree
A Mill on the Ouse, Huntingdonshire
Bridge and Pigeon House, Eardisland
Bentworth, Near Alton
Dalham (the footbridge)
General view of Hanley and Burslem, from near Wolstanton
Worcester College, Oxford
Leixlip on the Liffey
St. Bartholomew's Church, Orford, from the North-West
Old brick residences in the grounds of the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum)
Bridge over the Blackwater at Coggeshall