Catalogue Number
NMLH.1993.773
Object Name
Emblem
Title
OPERATIVE BRICKLAYERS SOCIETY...BY INDUSTRY WE FLOURISH...INDUSTRY IS THE SOURCE OF PROSPERITY. LONDON 1869...
Place
London, England, UK
People
A. J. Waudby, W. Brightwell, H. Turriff
Date
1869
Creator(s)Waudby, A J
Description
This massive oil painting, believed to be the work of the Royal Academy painter, A.J. Waudby, was commissioned by the Operative Bricklayers' Society. Completed in 1869, it hung in the Bricklayer's head office in London. Commissioned as a design, the painting was probably produced by Waudby to be copied by a professional firm of banner painters to form the centre panel of banners for the union.
The society's executive proudly have scaffold poles as a leading architectural feature in the design. One cameo at the bottom depicts a scene of injury at work, the other shows trade union compensation being given to the family of the injured or dead union member.
It was probably intended as the centre panel of a vast banner, but was framed to hang in the union headquarters. The three female figures from left to right are truth, architecture and science.
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