Preparatory sketches, drawings and photographs relating to the mural painted by Ivon Hitchens in Cecil Sharp House

Available online are records relating to the mural for Cecil Sharp House, the London headquarters of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, created by Ivon Hitchens. Following bomb damage to the building in 1940 the building was re-built in 1950. When the house was re-constructed the architect wanted to decorate one large blank wall (169 feet long). Ivon Hitchens was invited to provide a mural showing groups of dancers performing English country dances - a ring dance and Morris dancers on the left and a horn dance and the Padstow hobby-horse on the right. The artist eventually produced eleven large panels which were assembled on the wall and the work was unveiled on 1 July 1954. The preliminary work for the mural includes sketches, paintings, working panels and photographs from the early 1950s. This archival material accompanies the two works titled 'Study for the Mural Painting at Cecil Sharp House, London' c.1950 (Tate 02213 and T02214) and 'Cartoon Drawing for the Mural Painting at Cecil Sharp House, London' 1952 (Tate T02212).

Details of the remainder of the collection can be found on the Archive catalogue.

Collection Owner

Ivon Hitchens 1893–1979

Collection

Tate Archive

Acquisition

Presented by the artist in 1977.

Reference

TGA 778