Preparing for the Coronation, West Malling, May, 1937.
1937
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1937
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Preparing for the Coronation, West Malling, May, 1937. is a 1937 watercolor by Hardie, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This watercolor shows a quiet village street lined with old half-timbered houses. The buildings have steep roofs, small windows with white frames, and some shops on the ground floor. People walk along the cobblestone path, and a few are gathered near the center, while a horse-drawn cart sits on the right. The flags strung across the street hint at a celebration, likely the coronation mentioned in the title. The artist used soft, muted colors and loose brushstrokes to capture the scene. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of this painting in person.
The watercolour *Preparing for the Coronation, West Malling, May, 1937* depicts townspeople hanging bunting on buildings in a square in West Malling. Created in 1937 and signed by the artist, the work is part of the *Recording Britain* collection, a wartime initiative funded by the Pilgrim Trust to document Britain’s cultural and topographical identity. The scheme, directed by Sir Kenneth Clark, aimed to preserve scenes threatened by urban development, war damage, or changing traditions. Over 1,500 works were produced by 97 artists between 1940 and 1943, focusing on English market towns,…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Hardie painted watercolours of quiet corners in 1930s and 1940s England, usually coastal or village scenes with buildings and daily life.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
