Paintings, Prints & Drawings — 1991
Under the Bridges
This atmospheric night painting features two of the railway bridges over St. Pancras Road. Midland Road can be seen on the right, near St. Pancras station. The car in the centre, pausing at some traffic lights, is in the middle of a complex network of roads and rail tracks.
Dick French's ( born 1946) painting can be divided into two levels: above and below the bridges. By focusing on the underworld of the city, the painting conveys the seediness of the King's Cross area which is reputed for vice and high levels of police control. The murky shadows contrast with the jewel-like colours of the artificial lighting to allude to the energy of the area, as well as to its sinister reputation.
Trained at the Royal College of Art, French has exhibited widely in Britain. He also illustrated J. G. Ballard's 'Drowned World' (1981) with apocalyptic scenes of jungles and dying civilisations.
- Category:
- Paintings, Prints & Drawings
- Object ID:
- 93.41
- Object name:
- Under the Bridges
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- French, Dick
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1991
- Material:
oil, canvas
- Measurements/duration:
- H 1525 mm, W 1835 mm (unframed)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 80%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
Purchased with the assistance of the MGC/V&A Purchase Grant Fund