What movement is House in Amberley Grove, Sydenham, built by an Astronomer c.1867?

House in Amberley Grove, Sydenham, built by an Astronomer c.1867 is associated with Naïve art.

Artwork

House in Amberley Grove, Sydenham, built by an Astronomer c.1867

Barbara Jones , 1942

House in Amberley Grove, Sydenham, built by an Astronomer c.1867 is a watercolor work on paper by the Naïve art artist Barbara Jones. It dates from 1942 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour painting, held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, depicts a distinctive 19th-century house in Sydenham, London.

About this work

Overview

This watercolour painting, held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, depicts a distinctive 19th-century house in Sydenham, London.

Subject & Meaning

The house, built for an astronomer around 1867, features a blend of Gothic and medieval architectural elements, including a turret and timber-framed details. A black cat sits on a wall in front of the house, adding a touch of everyday life to the scene.

Technique & Style

The work was created by Barbara Jones in 1942 using watercolour, capturing the house's intricate details and colours.

History & Provenance

The painting was produced as part of the 'Recording Britain' project, a wartime initiative funded by the Pilgrim Trust and overseen by Sir Kenneth Clark, aiming to document Britain's architectural heritage.

Context

The project responded to concerns about the impact of wartime destruction and modernization on the country's cultural identity.

Street scene, Rotenburg, showing the White Tower and the Judentanzhaus, Wilfrid Williams Ball

Artist & collection

Artist

Barbara Jones

Barbara Mildred Jones (25 December 1912 – 28 August 1978) was an English artist, writer and mural painter. She is known for curating the exhibition Black Eyes and Lemonade (1951) and her book The Unsophisticated Arts (1951).