English 18th Century: Gallery 52 1939

This watercolour wash by Eggers and Higgins shows a design for Gallery 52, an 18th Century English gallery. It's fascinating to think about how a plan comes into being, all those marks that eventually result in a real, physical space! The palette is really restrained, different shades of grey and brown. The architects were interested in texture, not just colour. Look at the doors, the careful way the panels have been delineated, the shadows cast by the frames. This piece is all about surfaces, and how they catch the light. It's really interesting how the different textures and tones of the watercolour wash seem to predict the space itself. Architecture is such a collaborative art form. It's a conversation between the architect, the builders, and the people who eventually inhabit the space. Just like painting!