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The twentieth century was a time of unprecedented freedom of expression in art, where new visual languages broke time-honoured rules. This newfound creative autonomy bought with it a number of movements and groups with varied agendas, and whilst some complimented one another, others pulled in opposite directions. This exhibition tells a vibrant story of modern British art through artworks from Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, from the late 1880s to today.


Accompanying blog posts about the groups and artworks in this exhibition are available through http://www.swindonmuseumandartgallery.org.uk/artontour


19 artworks
The Reapers
Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

The Reapers 1896

George Clausen (1852–1944)

Graphite on paper

H 19 x W 27 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Marie Hayes
Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Marie Hayes

Spencer Gore (1878–1914)

Oil on canvas

H 50 x W 30.5 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Nude with Poppies
© estate of Vanessa Bell. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Nude with Poppies 1916

Vanessa Bell (1879–1961)

Oil on canvas

H 23.4 x W 42.4 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Study for 'Bank Holiday in the Park'
© estate of John David Roberts. By courtesy of The William Roberts Society. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Study for 'Bank Holiday in the Park' 1923

William Patrick Roberts (1895–1980)

Charcoal on paper with green wash, squared up for transfer in red ink

H 25.4 x W 20.3 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

The South East Corner, Jerusalem
© the estate of David Bomberg. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

The South East Corner, Jerusalem 1926

David Bomberg (1890–1957)

Oil on board

H 55.5 x W 73.2 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

1933 (composition in black and white)
© Angela Verren Taunt. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

1933 (composition in black and white) 1933

Ben Nicholson (1894–1982)

Oil & gesso on board

H 112 x W 53 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

The Chinese Bowl
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

The Chinese Bowl 1936

Ivon Hitchens (1893–1979)

Oil on canvas

H 59.5 x W 77 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Pistyll Maes-Glasau
© the Piper Estate / DACS 2024. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Pistyll Maes-Glasau 1940

John Piper (1903–1992)

Chalk, charcoal & gouache on paper

H 50.2 x W 37.5 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

The Mysterious Gift
© Desmond Morris. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

The Mysterious Gift 1965

Desmond Morris (b.1928)

Oil on canvas

H 99 x W 70.7 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Portrait of a Youth (Alfie Bass)
© estate of Sir Lawrence Gowing. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Portrait of a Youth (Alfie Bass) 1939–1941

Lawrence Gowing (1918–1991)

Oil on canvas

H 24.5 x W 19 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Grey, Red and Black Verticals
© estate of Terry Frost. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Grey, Red and Black Verticals 1962

Terry Frost (1915–2003)

Oil on canvas

H 101 x W 126.5 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Interior Study (a)
© estate of Richard Hamilton. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Interior Study (a) 1964

Richard Hamilton (1922–2011)

Oil & collage on paper

H 38.1 x W 50.8 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

R 25
© the artist. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

R 25 1964

Roger Cook (b.1940)

Acrylic on canvas

H 59 x W 60 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Box That Never Closes
© Michael Craig-Martin. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Box That Never Closes 1967

Michael Craig-Martin (b.1941)

Blockboard, polyurethane paint, varnish & brass hardware

H 61 x W 61 x D 61 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Two Walks
© Richard Long. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Two Walks 1972

Richard Long (b.1945)

Pencil & collage on ordinance survey map laid on card

H 61 x W 84 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Hyperion
© Christopher Le Brun. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Hyperion 1982

Christopher Le Brun (b.1951)

Oil on canvas

H 249 x W 214 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Sketch of CBD with Auerbach Drawing
© the estate of R. B. Kitaj. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Sketch of CBD with Auerbach Drawing 1989

Ronald Brooks Kitaj (1932–2007)

Charcoal on paper

H 57 x W 78 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

Rings and Strings and Things
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

Rings and Strings and Things

John Greenwood (b.1959)

Oil on canvas

H 134 x W 180 cm

Museum & Art Swindon

25 Cromwell Street
© the artist. Image credit: Museum & Art Swindon

25 Cromwell Street 2011

Robert Priseman (b.1965)

Oil on canvas

H 11 x W 7 cm

Museum & Art Swindon