Bedlam Furnace, Madeley Dale, Shropshire

With its ready supply of coal and iron ore, Shropshire was at the heart of the acceleration of Britain’s industrial economy from the middle of the 18th century. Here, Munn shows a scene of local industry with great attention to detail, both of the buildings and of atmospheric effects. The picture could be said to be an attempt at a kind of industrial version of the Picturesque –the ideal of variety and irregularity which had influenced images of rural life in previous decades.
Gallery label, February 2016

Medium: Watercolour on paper
Credit line: 'Purchased 1986'

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