Artwork
Pelican Ponds, Zoological Gardens
Pelican Ponds, Zoological Gardens 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
Pelican Ponds, Zoological Gardens is a 1940 watercolour by Bayes, capturing a serene scene at the London Zoo's pelican enclosure.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts everyday life during wartime, focusing on civilians enjoying a leisurely outing amidst the zoo's pelican enclosure, reflecting the Recording Britain project's goal of preserving national identity.
Technique & Style
Executed in a loose, impressionistic style, the work features bold brushstrokes and vivid colors, conveying the warmth and dappled light of a sunny day.
History & Provenance
Commissioned under the Recording Britain project, a wartime initiative funded by the Pilgrim Trust and overseen by Sir Kenneth Clark, to employ artists in documenting British life and landscapes.
Context
Created during the Second World War, the piece responds to concerns over potential national destruction and social upheaval, aiming to preserve a visual record of British normalcy.
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.
The Fair Ground, Hampstead Heath
Fountain in Kensington Gardens
The Lock, Old Windsor
Elephant Riding, Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, London
Middle Mill, Colchester
Cannons Park, Edgware; from the Tennis Courts
The Mall, Central Park
College Barges on the Isis, Oxford
Porch of the Senior Common-room, Reading University
The Avenue, Bucklebury