Sir Lawrence Gowing

Wellington Square

c.1944–5

© The estate of Sir Lawrence Gowing

License this image

Not on display
Artist
Sir Lawrence Gowing 1918–1991
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 509 x 764 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1991
Reference
T06489

Display caption

As a Conscientious Objector Gowing was exempt from service on condition that he continue painting. In 1944 he went to Wellington Square, London. This work, a view down the Square from the balcony, was one of the first pictures made there. It is painted in the realist style of the Euston Road School established in 1937 by Claude Rogers, William Coldstream and Victor Pasmore. Aware of the failure of modern art to reach the public, they opposed what they felt to be the pretentious posturing of the avant-garde with an art based on an objective appraisal of the subject. Gowing combines careful observation with a poetic sensibility, suggested here by hazy light which envelops the scene.

Gallery label, September 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Euston Road School

Explore

You might like

Left Right
Stanislawa De Karlowska, ‘Berkeley Square’ c.1935

Stanislawa De Karlowska Berkeley Square

c.1935
Ceri Richards, ‘Trafalgar Square, London’ 1950

Ceri Richards Trafalgar Square, London

1950
Robert Buhler, ‘Carlyle Square, Chelsea’ 1946–7

Robert Buhler Carlyle Square, Chelsea

1946–7
Charles Cundall, ‘Building in Berkeley Square’ 1938

Charles Cundall Building in Berkeley Square

1938
Geoffrey Tibble, ‘Demolition of Verlaine’s House’ 1938

Geoffrey Tibble Demolition of Verlaine’s House

1938
Victor Pasmore, ‘The Quiet River: The Thames at Chiswick’ 1943–4

Victor Pasmore The Quiet River: The Thames at Chiswick

1943–4
Geoffrey Rhoades, ‘Winter Afternoon, Chalk Farm’ 1935

Geoffrey Rhoades Winter Afternoon, Chalk Farm

1935
Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson, ‘Fitzroy Square’ 1923–4

Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson Fitzroy Square

1923–4
Sir William Coldstream, ‘On the Map’ 1937

Sir William Coldstream On the Map

1937
Sir William Coldstream, ‘Standing Nude’ 1937

Sir William Coldstream Standing Nude

1937
Sir George Clausen, ‘My Back Garden’ exhibited 1940

Sir George Clausen My Back Garden

exhibited 1940
Sir William Coldstream, ‘Seated Nude’ 1952–3

Sir William Coldstream Seated Nude

1952–3
Adrian Allinson, ‘Ibizan Waterfront’ 1933

Adrian Allinson Ibizan Waterfront

1933
Sir Lawrence Gowing, ‘Path with Elder and Hazel’ 1959

Sir Lawrence Gowing Path with Elder and Hazel

1959
Paul Nash, ‘Grotto in the Snow’ 1939

Paul Nash Grotto in the Snow

1939
On display at Tate St Ives part of Modern Art and St Ives