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The Blind Beggar of Bednall Green

William Ward

1804

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Genre Scene

Dominant colour

The Blind Beggar of Bednall Green is a 1804 ink by William Ward, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: William Ward
When & what style?: 1804 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows an older man with a long white beard leaning on a young woman’s arm. She wears a wide-brimmed hat and a loose dress, looking down at him gently. Behind them, a faint cityscape with buildings and a bridge stretches into the distance. The man’s blind eyes and the woman’s caring touch hint at a quiet story. The soft lighting and shadows give the scene a gentle mood. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how light and dark create drama in art.