The Railway Station

This bustling railway scene with its myriad of characters captures a snapshot of modern Victorian life. Amongst the crowd at Paddington Station there are a wealth of personalities and encounters to be discovered. The scene generates a sense of anticipation, movement and excitement.

The Graphic newspaper named Frith ‘the historian of his own age’. He created a new style of genre painting, documenting vast crowd scenes in everyday locations. The different social classes jostle together on the platform before separating into their carriages. The wrought-iron architecture of the station arches over the scene, celebrating the era’s industrial accomplishments.

Frith weaves a tapestry of stories. Centre-left, a family kisses their sons goodbye as they leave for boarding school. This is in fact Frith and his own family, the painter’s self-portrait tucked in amongst the crowds. Moving to the right, a cab driver argues over his fare, whilst further along a bride bids farewell to her bridesmaids. On the far right-hand side of the painting, an arrest is made as two police detectives surprise their target, his foot on the carriage step alluding to his near escape.

Purchased by Thomas Holloway, 1883.