Artwork
Gazebos on the River Lea, Ware
Gazebos on the River Lea, Ware is a watercolor work on paper by the Regionalist artist Hawkins. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The watercolour, signed by the artist and titled, presents an intimate view of modest wooden summer structures perched on the bank of the River Lea at Ware. In the distance, hop barns and a church with prominent spires can be seen, while the river’s surface reflects the scene with gentle ripples.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a tranquil riverside setting, emphasizing the everyday architecture of rural leisure and agricultural activity. The juxtaposition of the small summer houses with the hop barns hints at the region’s historic hop‑growing industry, while the distant church anchors the scene within its local community.
Technique & Style
Executed in soft, muted hues, the artist employs loose brushwork to convey atmosphere. Light, rapid strokes render the water’s texture, and the delicate handling of foliage and reflections creates a sense of quiet stillness. The palette of reds, browns, and pale yellows defines the structures without heavy detailing.
History & Provenance
The scheme commissioned artists to document the British home front, anticipating possible wartime damage and chronicling changes in the landscape.
Created in the early 1940s, the work belongs to the Recording Britain project, a wartime initiative funded by the Pilgrim Trust and overseen by Sir Kenneth Clark. The scheme commissioned artists to document the British home front, anticipating possible wartime damage and chronicling changes in the landscape. Over 1,500 pieces were produced under this program, and this watercolour remains part of that collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (8 February 1807 – 27 January 1894) was an English sculptor and natural history artist renowned for his work on the life-size models of dinosaurs in the Crystal Palace Park in south London.
