Details
W. B.
Cricket at Parker's Piece
watercolour, signed with the artist's monogram and dated 1846, 415 x 620mm. (16½ x 24½in.), framed and glazed.
Cricket at Parker's Piece
watercolour, signed with the artist's monogram and dated 1846, 415 x 620mm. (16½ x 24½in.), framed and glazed.
Literature
Cf. Coleman p. 324, plate 78, for an oil painting of the same or a very similar scene entitled Cricket Match at Parker's Piece, Cambridge which, however, is given the much later date of "ca. 1861"; also Pageant of Cricket p. 102. The present watercolour, which once hung in a college room, probably represents the town of Cambridge versus the University. The town gaol can be seen in the distance. The fielders wear the University's pale blue colours in their boaters, but the artist has also made use of white bodycolour to indicate that all the fielding side, and one of the umpires, are smoking heavily. Even the bowler smokes on his gentle run up. Is this then perhaps a Smokers v. Non Smokers match? Whatever the answer to the riddle, this is AN ORIGINAL COMPOSITION THAT FORMS A MAJOR LANDMARK IN THE ART OF CRICKET. Relatively large in size and early in date, it is not only highly picturesque but historically significant in having its basis in an actual game, not of national importance but certainly a cut above the usual village level. The ground itself is the place where, as Frith says, "many a talent was fostered ... including that of the young Jack Hobbs."