Art Collections - Pictures

Pictures displayed reflect Chelmsford's rich heritage, many of which are by local artists such as Lynton Lamb, Edward Bawden, John Nash etc. Images also include many fine landscapes and noteworthy architectural structures.

Pictures

Pictures on display are only a small proportion of the collection, which is mainly of work showing Chelmsford and mid-Essex, or by artists from this area. Many of our pictures are work on paper including 20th century artists such as Edward Bawden, John Nash, John Aldridge or Michael Rothenstein who all lived in Mid Essex and also worked as designers; as did their contemporary the illustrator, designer and painter Lynton Lamb, who lived near Chelmsford.

Pictures from the 18th century include Philip Reinagle's view of Chelmsford's Shire Hall, painted for its architect John Johnson in 1794. Johnson's portrait in pastel by his friend John Russell hangs close by. Two portraits of Juliana Waltersdorff (c1780s, possibly a betrothal portrait) and the same lady later when Mrs Juliana Kortright of Hylands House and a mother of seven children (c1801), are by the Danish court painter Jens Juel.

A mid 19th century view of Chelmsford from Springfield Hill by Colkett records the new railway just before the expansion of the town. Chelmsford's landscape is also well covered by watercolours and drawings by Alfred Bennett-Bamford, whose prolific late 19th and early 20th century sketches record many buildings and views now vanished.

During 2005 our oil and other easel paintings were photographed by the Public Catalogue Foundation, for inclusion in the Essex County catalogue of paintings in public collections, published in 2006.