Madeline Rachel Wells, Vaison-La-Romaine, Provence, 1935, Watercolour

An original c.1935 watercolour painting, Madeline Rachel Wells RBA, Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence.An impressive large watercolour showing architecture at Vaison-la-Romaine in Provence by noted British artist Madeline Rachel Wells RBA (1879–1959). Wells studied under Sir Frank Brangwyn RA RWS RBA (1867–1956) at London School of Art, and his influence can very much be seen in this painting.Wells travelled extensively in France, Spain and the Mediterranean area, along with her architect husband, Robert Douglas Wells (1875–1963), who had been her fellow student at London School of Art. Both artists recorded and were inspired by the architecture around them; here Wells paints the medieval belfry tower undergoing repairs at Vaison-la-Romaine in the Vaucluse region of Provence, with its distinctive wrought-iron bell cage (designed to withstand the fierce Mistral winds) and its ogival arch, one of the two doors to the upper town.The various architectural elements, with rooftops, archways, ladders and beams, allow for a laying of forms and colours that is almost Cezanne-esque or Cubist in effect—and stylistically resembles Brangwyn's monumental, decorative treatment of his subjects. Brangwyn's recurring themes included architecture, ships, churches, windmills and bridges, and his work above all else was 'usually concerned with the dignity of human labour, and the working man' (Libby Horner). Wells includes two labouring figures in her composition, making the scene not just about the architecture but man's relationship to it.Born in India in 1879, Madeline Wells studied firstly at Westminster School of Art, under William Mouat Loudan, before studying at London School of Art under Sir Frank Brangwyn. In 1915, she became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists and in 1923 she was elected a member of the Society of Women Artists. Wells exhibited widely over a period of more than thirty years, including at the Grosvenor Gallery, the Royal Academy, and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.Robert Douglas Wells had studied architecture at Cambridge and worked on archaeological excavations in Crete, and the two travelled extensively in the Mediterranean area. In London, in the 1920s, the couple lived at St Albans Studios in Kensington. from 1939 onwards they lived at 30 Palace Gardens Terrace.In watercolour over graphite with white, blue and red bodycolour. On heavy beige textured wove paper.with separate accompanying historic Abbott & Holder dealer's label.All artworks come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Signed: Signed lower right. Inscribed: No. Height: 75cm (29.5″) Width: 54cm (21.3″) Condition: Due to its large size, the paper has the appearance of having been rolled and has suffered some edge damage and creasing, quite possibly when the artist was travelling. There are numerous short edge tears, some extending a short way into the image, the majority of which have been repaired and shored up on the verso. These could be successfully covered by a mount. Some horizontal creasing to the paper, mainly towards the lower edge. Two small abrasions to the paper surface in the tower area and a patch of abrasion to the lower centre. These issues do not, however, impact the overall quality of the image. Please see photos for detail. Presented: Unframed. Please note that this picture will ship rolled in a tube.