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Paintings, Prints & Drawings — 1993-1994

History painting

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This painting is a dramatic representation of the Poll Tax Riot which took place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 31 March 1990 and involved a large number of police and some 250,000 protestors.

The artist has focused on the conflict between rioters on the left and fully-armoured policeman on the right, at the base of Nelson's Column. The National Gallery can be seen in the background, beyond explosions in the Square. Between the two opposing groups lies an injured rioter, while a helicopter hovers overhead. Dressed in jeans and light clothing, the rioters are shown either cowering or flinging stones. The policemen, some on horseback, use batons and shields to simultaneously defend themselves and attack.

Category:
Paintings, Prints & Drawings
Object ID:
98.96
Object name:
History painting
Object type:

painting, oil on canvas

Artist/Maker:
Bartlett, John
Related people:

Metropolitan Police

Related events:

Poll tax riots 1990

Related places:

Production date:
1993-1994
Material:

oil, canvas

Measurements/duration:
H 2750 mm (approx), W 3660 mm (approx), D 37 mm
Part of:
—
On display:
—
Record quality:
100%
Part of this object:
—
Owner Status & Credit:

Permanent collection

Copyright holder:

Bartlett, John

Image credit:

© John Bartlett, © John Bartlett / Museum of London, © John Bartlett

Creative commons usage:
—
License this image:

To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.

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