The Belvedere, Genzano

Edward Bawden used to take one or two painting holidays each year, during which he was free to paint for its own sake, and not for a client on commissions for book illustrations, printmaking, advertisements, catalogues etc, which his work as an outstanding designer involved. This watercolour was done on a holiday in Sicily. His technique was in traditional vein, making a careful pencil drawing rather like a blueprint or map, to which he applied washes of colour, one on top of the other, almost like a lithograph. His works were well drawn, selecting essentials from a subject, imaginative and warm in colour.