Albert from Bray Road
Albert from Bray Road
1058
This scene shows the aftermath of the second Battle of Albert (1-13 July 1916), which constituted the first two weeks of British-French offensive operations of the Battle of the Somme. The scene Handley-Read has depicted is on the main road from Bray to Albert, presumably in the aftermath of battle. In the distance can be seen two ambulance wagons, and beyond them the tower of the Basilica of Our Lady of Brebières in the town of Albert, on top of which a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary by the French artist Albert Roze was installed in 1897. In 1915, German shelling knocked over the statue. Despite extensive damage to the basilica, the statue survived the Battle of the Somme in its precarious position, and it became a symbol of French resilience. In the right foreground is a British fox-hole, with washing hanging out and a sign advertising "Shavin".
Handley-Read went on to show his work widely, including at the Chenil and Goupil Galleries, the Fine Art Society, the Royal Academy and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. His work is held by the V&A Museum, the Higgins Art Gallery and Museum, Bedford and Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. His son was the prominent art historian and collector Charles Handley-Read (1916-1971).
Dimensions:
1916
Watercolour and chalk
Signed and inscribed with title. Inscribed on the fox-hole sign, lower right, SHAVIN'.
Some residual, inactive spotting int the sky
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, which constituted the first two weeks of British-French offensive operations of the Battle of the Somme. The scene Handley-Read has depicted is on the main road from Bray to Albert, presumably in the aftermath of battle. In the distance can be seen two ambulance wagons, and beyond them the tower of the Basilica of Our Lady of Brebières in the town of Albert, on top of which a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary by the French artist Albert Roze was installed in 1897. In 1915, German shelling knocked over the statue. Despite extensive damage to the basilica, the statue survived the Battle of the Somme in its precarious position, and it became a symbol of French resilience. In the right foreground is a British fox-hole, with washing hanging out and a sign advertising "Shavin".Handley-Read went on to show his work widely, including at the Chenil and Goupil Galleries, the Fine Art Society, the Royal Academy and the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. His work is held by the V&A Museum, the Higgins Art Gallery and Museum, Bedford and Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. His son was the prominent art historian and collector Charles Handley-Read (1916-1971).){kind=link}