The Ice Store in the grounds of Buckland House near Faringdon
1940
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1940
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
The Ice Store in the grounds of Buckland House near Faringdon is a 1940 watercolor by Piper, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows an old stone building with a big arched doorway. The walls look worn, with patches of dark and light. Around it, the ground is rough, with some grass and weeds poking up. Trees stand tall in the background, their branches bare. The artist used quick, loose brushstrokes to sketch the scene. The colors are mostly earthy browns and greens, giving it a rustic feel. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next to see more works like this.
The watercolour depicts an 18th-century ice house on the grounds of Buckland House, featuring a grand limestone porch with a pediment and a circular, thatched structure partially concealed by surrounding trees. Created in 1940 as part of the *Recording Britain* project, the work was commissioned to document Britain’s landscape and cultural heritage during the Second World War. The scheme, led by Sir Kenneth Clark, aimed to preserve scenes threatened by wartime damage and modernization while supporting artists through employment. The painting is part of a broader effort to record rural and…
Read the full account in the museum source.
A 1940s British artist known for delicate watercolours of country houses, churches, and riverside views, Piper captured quiet corners of England in soft washes and fine lines.
See the richer artist page
