Low Petergate in the 1920s by YorkArtist's resident artist Mark Braithwaite
From The Classic York Collection
In the city of York, testament to its Viking history, many of the streets are known as "Gates" (from the Danish word for street), and the stone gatehouses in the city walls are "Bars".
Low Petergate derives its name from the Minster, which is dedicated to St. Peter. Situated in the heart of the ancient city of York, it was once the Via Principalis of the Roman city of Eboracum.
This view, from outside the old College for Girls was a favourite location for artist MJ Braithwaite. The imposing college building was originally the home of Dr. John Hunter, physician and author. In 1908. it became the York College for Girls, until the school's closure in 1997. The buildings have now been redeveloped after standing empty for several years.
Painted, in acrylic on canvas, in 1995, the painting was researched from archive photographs of the street as it would have been in the 1920s. Photos of the schoolgirls' in uniform were provided by the College for Girls, who used to sell the prints in the school summer fete.
The figures in the painting are all based on real people - M.J. Braithwaite worked as a graphic designer for local printer "Quacks" one winter; the faces of the figures are those of the staff from Quacks. The figure at the back in the Salvation Army uniform is that of his wife Anne!
Look for Lucy, M.J. Braithwaite's black cat trademark, who is accompanied in this picture by two other cats! Also look for figures peeping out of the windows, another feature of M.J.'s work.
"Low Petergate in the 1920s" has been reproduced using the offset litho process on art card:
A3 Signed & Numbered Edition, restricted issue; SOLD OUT.
Look for Lucy, M.J. Braithwaite's black cat trademark!
Low Petergate in the 1920s is presented in a 240x300mm mount
A larger edition is also available, 300x400mm
