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Student Artwork Guide

The Upper Port

Name Class Date

George Hyde Pownall, The Upper Port. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
George Hyde Pownall topimpressionists.com/en/artists/george-hyde-pownall/
Artist’s dates
1876 – 1932

In context

The Upper Port — George Hyde Pownall

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1870
  2. 1880
  3. 1890
  4. 1900
  5. 1910
  6. 1920
  7. 1930

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 56 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of George Hyde Pownall (1876–1932) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

  • Piccadilly Circus topimpressionists.com/en/art/george-hyde-pownall-piccadilly-circus-9DH4HC-en/
  • Tower Bridge At Dusk topimpressionists.com/en/art/george-hyde-pownall-tower-bridge-at-dusk-9DH4HZ-en/
  • Piccadilly Circus topimpressionists.com/en/art/george-hyde-pownall-piccadilly-circus-9DH4HM-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/george-hyde-pownall-the-upper-port-9DH4HT-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Rosy Brown #ccb291

    Catalogued palette

    • #CCB291
    • #251516
    • #845A46
    • #F3EBDB

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Neutrals The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Rosy Brown
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by George Hyde Pownall over the last twelve months — 5 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 44.4%
    2. 2 Switzerland 22.2%
    3. 3 Germany 11.1%
    4. 4 Russia 11.1%
    5. 5 United States of America 11.1%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 9 most looked-at works by George Hyde Pownall

    1. 1 Piccadilly Circus At Night 25.0%
    2. 2 Winter Morning, Flinders Street 16.7%
    3. 3 Tower Bridge At Dusk 8.3%
    4. 4 Piccadilly Circus 8.3%
    5. 5 Piccadilly Circus - 8.3%
    6. 6 The Victoria Embarkment From Hawkford Bridge 8.3%
    7. 7 Collins Street, Spring Morning 8.3%
    8. 8 Eaton Square 8.3%
    9. 9 The Upper Port this painting 8.3%

    Together these works take 99.8% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 15 works by this artist, of which 9 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 9 of them, with 8.3% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    George Hyde Pownall

    George Hyde Pownall (1866 - 1939): Painter of London’s Atmospheric Glow

    George Hyde Pownall was a painter of evocative London Street scenes, often at night. Like many artists of the period very little is known of his career, although he is known to have painted very attractive, usually small pictures of London. He painted in the tradition of John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-1893) and James Abbott McNeil Whistler, PRBA (1834-1903) combining the effects of fine detail with the loose manner of impressionism. Born in England during a period of great cultural change, Hyde-Pownall grew to demonstrate a marked awareness of the burgeoning technology and industrialization that spread throughout his country’s metropolitan centers. He frequented London’s most lively intersections producing works that captured the glowing lights, omni-buses and thrill of Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Hyde Park. He also offered a number of striking views from the Thames River that incorporated London’s famous landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Hyde Pownall had the great gift of painting atmospheric views at a time when both the horse and motorcar were commonplace and the streets of London were lit by gaslight. He also worked in Australia, and examples by him are in the Melbourne City Council.

    Early Life & Training:

    Little is recorded of Hyde-Pownall’s formative years.

    London Landscapes: Capturing the Spirit of Victorian Night

    Hyde Pownall's paintings suggest that he traveled to Australia where he created views of Melbourne, perhaps during the years 1911 – 1930. Today, the artist’s works can be found in the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. He painted many of the high spots of London such as the Law Courts in Chancery Lane, along the Thames, St Paul’s and the Café Royal in Regents Street, often frequented by the likes of Oscar Wilde and other literary dandies of the fashionable set. Hyde Pownall had the great gift of painting atmospheric views at a time when both the horse and motorcar were commonplace and the streets of London were lit by gaslight. He also worked in Australia, and examples by him are in the Melbourne City Council.

    Notable Works:

    "Westminster": An impressionistic landscape featuring Big Ben & sailing boats. Oil on canvas, warm tones, and visible brushstrokes capture a fleeting moment in time. Located at Westminster.

    "Eaton Square": An exquisite impressionistic painting of a river scene with a majestic cathedral silhouette. Hand-painted reproductions available.

    Technique & Style

    Hyde Pownall’s paintings combine the effects of fine detail with the loose manner of impressionism. He painted many of the high spots of London such as the Law Courts in Chancery Lane, along the Thames, St Paul’s and the Café Royal in Regents Street, often frequented by the likes of Oscar Wilde and other literary dandies of the fashionable set. Hyde Pownall had the great gift of painting atmospheric views at a time when both the horse and motorcar were commonplace and the streets of London were lit by gaslight. He also worked in Australia, and examples by him are in the Melbourne City Council.

    Influences:

    Grimshaw & Whistler: Hyde Pownall’s artistic vision was shaped by the luminist painters John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-1893) and James Abbott McNeil Whistler, PRBA (1834-1903).

    Legacy & Recognition

    Hyde Pownall’s works are held in the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. He painted many of the high spots of London such as the Law Courts in Chancery Lane, along the Thames, St Paul’s and the Café Royal in Regents Street, often frequented by the likes of Oscar Wilde and other literary dandies of the fashionable set. Hyde Pownall had the great gift of painting atmospheric views at a time when both the horse and motorcar were commonplace and the streets of London were lit by gaslight. He also worked in Australia, and examples by him are in the Melbourne City Council.

    Further Exploration

    George Daniell Museum: Explore George Daniell Museum in Miami Beach! Discover iconic black-and-white photography of Hollywood stars & artists like Georgia O’Keeffe. Vibrant culture, captivating exhibits.

    The Hyde Collection Art Museum and Historic Home: Explore art & history at The Hyde Collection! Discover Old Masters, American art, and the stunning historic Hyde House in Glens Falls, NY. A unique museum experience awaits!

    Questroyal Fine Art: George Hyde-Pownall - Questroyal Fine Art

    Where to read more

    • The artist George Hyde Pownall topimpressionists.com/en/artists/george-hyde-pownall/
    • Similar works More works to compare topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/george-hyde-pownall-the-upper-port-9DH4HT-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for The Upper Port

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/george-hyde-pownall-the-upper-port-9DH4HT-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Pownall, George Hyde. The Upper Port. n.d., https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/george-hyde-pownall-the-upper-port-9DH4HT-en/
    APA
    Pownall, George Hyde (n.d.). The Upper Port [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/george-hyde-pownall-the-upper-port-9DH4HT-en/
    Chicago
    George Hyde Pownall. The Upper Port. n.d. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/george-hyde-pownall-the-upper-port-9DH4HT-en/
    Harvard
    Pownall, George Hyde (n.d.) The Upper Port. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/george-hyde-pownall-the-upper-port-9DH4HT-en/

    Look closely

    The Upper Port — George Hyde Pownall

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Piccadilly Circus, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    How do I preview a reproduction of "The Upper Port" by George Hyde Pownall?

    A preview of "The Upper Port" by George Hyde Pownall is available on the artwork's Preview page.

    What kind of colors does "The Upper Port" use?

    "The Upper Port" by George Hyde Pownall uses a neutrals color palette. The palette summarizes the work's overall color character.

    How strong is the contrast in "The Upper Port" by George Hyde Pownall?

    "The Upper Port" by George Hyde Pownall shows a statement contrast between its light and dark areas.