Baptismal Font 1937

Harry Mann Waddell, made this Baptismal Font, but we don't have a date. It's a watercolour drawing on paper and the mark-making, to me, feels like an attempt to capture the weight and texture of the actual object, a kind of soft focus realism. There is a real gentleness in the mottled shades of brown and red that describe the surface of the font, from the scalloped pattern around the base to the small cross perched on top. It's not about precision; rather, the blurry edges and diffused light create a sense of warmth and familiarity. Looking closely, you can almost feel the artist's hand moving delicately across the paper, layering thin washes of colour to build up the form. The effect is almost photographic, yet there's an undeniable human touch in the imperfections and subtle variations of tone. I wonder if Waddell had ever looked at the work of Charles Demuth, in the way that he uses colour as a way of evoking an object in a way that is both real and abstract. Ultimately, this is a work that invites you to slow down, to appreciate the beauty of the everyday, and to find meaning in the quiet contemplation of simple forms.