Artwork
The Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Bath
The Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Bath is a watercolor work on paper by the Social Realist artist Frances Macdonald. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Bath is a 1943 watercolour by Frances Macdonald, created as part of the 'Recording Britain' project.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Royal Mineral Water Hospital in Bath from an elevated viewpoint, capturing everyday life in a quiet street corner with muted colours.
Technique & Style
Macdonald's work is characterized by soft, muted colours and a focus on institutional buildings and urban settings, presenting a calm and observational representation of the scene.
History & Provenance
The artwork was produced during the Second World War as part of a national effort, led by Sir Kenneth Clark and funded by the Pilgrim Trust, to document British architecture and landscapes perceived as vulnerable to damage or modernization.
Context
The 'Recording Britain' project employed artists to record sites across England, contributing to a broader documentation of English heritage during a time of significant change and upheaval.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Frances Macdonald MacNair (24 August 1873 – 12 December 1921) was a Scottish artist whose design work was a prominent feature of the Modern Style (British Art Nouveau style) during the 1890s.
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