Staircase, Burlington House
1940
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1940
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Staircase, Burlington House is a 1940 watercolor by Bayes, a Abstract Expressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This watercolor shows a busy indoor staircase with people walking up and down. The walls are plain with a few small decorations, and the ceiling has a simple pattern. Bright colors like reds, blues, and yellows stand out against the muted background. Notice how the artist used loose, sketchy lines for the figures and details. This gives the scene a quick, lively feel, like a snapshot of daily life. Look up Bayes to see more of this artist’s work.
This watercolour by Bayes depicts visitors ascending the staircase at Burlington House, framed by arched galleries in the background. Created in 1940 as part of the "Recording Britain" project, it documents British architecture and public spaces during the Second World War. The work was commissioned by the Committee for the Employment of Artists in Wartime, funded by the Pilgrim Trust, to capture a sense of national identity amid wartime changes. Over 1,500 such works were produced by 97 artists between 1940 and 1943.
Read the full account in the museum source.
This artist painted watercolours around London in the 1940s. They captured quiet spots like The Gateway at Royal Naval College, Greenwich, The Garden at York House in Twickenham, and London Dock, Wapping. Each sheet…
See the richer artist page
