The Elms

WAG 935

Information

Paul Nash's contribution to 20th century British landscape painting was to express the sense of mystery and inner life behind the appearance of nature. 'The Elms' shows the garden at Nash's boyhood home Iver Heath, in Buckinghamshire. It was painted early in his career, during the years of his spiritual awakening, not long after he left school. The trees have a brooding, almost human presence as though they are sentinels, watching over the gardens. This work belonged to Sir Edward Howard Marsh (1872 - 1953), a civil servant, scholar and art collector who patronised lesser known artists. Marsh helped to popularise both Paul Nash and his brother, John.