Roofing a New House
Oil on canvas
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About the work
- Location
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Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection
Aldridge’s 1947 painting speaks of the real and metaphorical emphasis on rebuilding that permeated post-war British society. Hundreds of thousands of homes had been destroyed during the War, displacing families and communities across the country. Austerity measures and food rationing continued long after the jubilation of VE day in May 1945, as did the slow process of rebuilding new homes. Initially, the government focused on supporting the repair of existing homes, a large majority of which were completed by late 1946. This was followed by the construction of new homes, schools, hospitals and other public buildings signalling a gradual move towards better standards of living and prosperity. -
Explore
- Places
- Subjects
- Gypsy caravan, roofer, landscape C20th, genre, giant hogweed, grass, tree, cloud, man, working class, house, tiled roof, chimney, scaffolding
- Materials & Techniques
- canvas, oil, oil painting
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Details
- Artist
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John Aldridge (1905 - 1983)
- Title
- Roofing a New House
- Date
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- height: 51.00 cm, width: 76.50 cm
- Acquisition
- Purchased from Leicester Galleries, February 1947
- Inscription
- BR: J. Aldridge
- Provenance
- Consigned by the artist to Leicester Galleries, London; from whom purchased by the Ministry of Works in February 1947, as ‘Roofing a Red Barn’
- GAC number
- 285