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Mission to the Gypsies

Augustus RA John

1916

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Mission to the Gypsies is a 1916 by Augustus RA John, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Augustus RA John
When & what style?: 1916
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows a group of people standing close together outdoors. A woman in a long dress holds a baby, while a man in a top hat and coat stands nearby. The background is faint hills, and the drawing is loose and quick, with simple lines. The artist focused on everyday life, not polished details. The faces and clothes are rough but full of movement. Look up cross-hatching next to see how artists build shadows with lines.

The story of this work

Overview

The drawing depicts a formally dressed man in a suit and top hat standing among a group of women and children, likely on the Aran Islands off Ireland’s west coast in 1916. Based on the artist’s account, the scene may show the departure of two Jesuit missionaries, with islanders gathered in their finest attire to bid them farewell, exchanging religious items for blessings. Augustus John, known for his interest in Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller cultures, created the work during a broader period of engagement with these communities. The composition reflects the romanticized perspective of rural life…

Read the full account in the museum source.